BRITAIN SHORT OF BACON

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25678, 15 December 1948, Page 5

BRITAIN SHORT OF BACON

GLOOMY PROSPECTS FOR MEAT “ NEW ZEALAND THE ONE BRIGHT SPOT” ' LONDON, December 13. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Dr. Edith Summerskill) said in the House of Commons to-day that supplies of bacon available by the end of the year would be about 10,000 tons less than the requirements of the weekly 2oz ration, and that the prospects for meat were very gloomy. Earlier, the Minister of Food (Mr John Strachey) had told the House that because of the increasing consumption of pig products in Canada Britain would get only 81,000 tons of Canadian bacon produced in 1948, compared with the 100,000 tons Britain had agreed to buy. Dr. Summerskill said that Britain had signed a new agreement with Denmark for 90 per cent, of her ex-’ portable surplus bacon, and was negotiating with Poland for a five years’ contract. Eire, before the war, supplied Britain with 27,000 tons, but now she could not feed her own population. Bacon production at home in 1949 was estimated at 110.000 tons, compared with 74.000 tons in 1948. Dr. Summerskill added that the amount of meat available in 1948 had been considerably less than in 1947 and inroads had been macte into stocks of canned corned beef. Australia had contracted to sell her entire exportable surplus of beef, veal, mutton and lamb up to September, 1950. New Zealand was the “one bright spot,” with supplies of about 360,000 tons of carcase meat yearly, which was nearly 100,000 tons over the prewar shioments. Purchases of meat from Canada had been made impossible because of dollar difficulties. Britain was negotiating with Hungary, Jugoslavia and Russia for maize for animal food and hoped to receive supplies in the ensuing year.

Duke of Gloucester.—The Duke of Gloucester will fly to Holland by special aeroplane to-day as the guest of Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. It is reported that the Duke of Gloucester will take part in a hunt on Wednesday near the Het Loo Palace, Apeldoorn.—London. December 13.