BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25362, 9 December 1947, Page 3

BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLY

“REAL HUNGER LIKELY BEFORE LONG” GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S APPEAL (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH. Dec. 8He had been assured that the British people would really suffer hunger before long, said the Governor-Gen-eral (Sir Bernard Freyberg) to-day, making a strong appeal tor all the help possible to Britain in the next few months. His Excellency was replying to a civic welcome at New Plymouth at the opening of a threeday visit to Taranaki. “Many of you are doing a great deal for Britain by sending gift parcels and in other ways,” he said, “and many of you have either received letters or read them in the newspapers telling how grateful are the people at Home. It has fallen to my lot, however, to meet several muchtravelled visitors, notably the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand (Sir Patrick Duff) -and Sir Oliver Leese, who succeeded Field-Marshal Lord Montgomery as Commander of the Bth Army, and they have told me that while it is true that the people of Britain have not actually experienced hunger yet—though there has been little pleasure in their meals—they actually will experience hunger in the future.” The clothing position was equally grim, said his Excellency. The few coupons people received were not sufficient to replace their clothing, and he had been assured that even men would find it impossible to supply themselves with necessary clothing. “I ask you to concentrate in the next few months on giving all the help possible, for this is when it win be most sorely needed.”