CONDITIONS IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25274, 28 August 1947, Page 3

CONDITIONS IN BRITAIN

LACK OF VARIETY IN FOOD SHORTAGE OF CLOTHING "The people of Britain are running on flat batteries.’’ This remark by a British doctor who had said he was treating many minor ailments, was described as an apt statement of the position at present by Mr A. J. Campbell, who has returned to Christchurch. Mr Campbell, who is lecturer in history at the Christchurch Teachers’ Training College, spent a year in Britain on a Carnegie Fellowship. Although there were almost no complaints, the people of Britain were tired after their great hardships during the war and during the ppnod of reconversion, Mr Campbell said. They realised that harder times nad to faced, and would meet them witn further courage. There was a great need for the Empire to help Britain by supplying food, Mr Campbell continued. There was at present no starvation, and the people in fact got as much food, if not more than, as they did before the war, but the margin was dangerously low. There was a great lack of variety, and too much starchy food. Some families with adolescent children were having great difficulties. To feed the children parents were going without necessary food, and were beginning to feel the effects. A valuable scheme was that adopted in most bullish schools. Children were given a midday meal at the schools and there was a corresponding saving in the ration points of families. In some schools opportunity was taken to teach the children good table manners. •Mr Campbell mentioned that while in Birmingham with a friend he had gone to a restaurant, which was not an expensive one, and had paid 5s for a meal. His friend and he had then gone to another restaurant across the road and had another 5s meal. Only then did they feel mildly satisfied.' More apparent than the food shortage was the clothing shortage, he said. People endeavoured to "put on a good show,” but threadbare clothes and patches were to be seen every day. While in England he had attended the annual Efton-Harrow cricket match, which is a big social event, and he had noticed that the dress clothes of the men had been carefully cleaned and' pressed in an effort to keep up appearances, and most of the women's frocks had been altered and renovated.