FOOD PARCLES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25679, 16 December 1948, Page 3

FOOD PARCLES

VALUE TO BRITAIN EMPHASISED FAT and tinned meat MOST IMPORTANT ■ “Behind the high cost of living and the shortages in Britain, are the perils on the Continent, and the sunken fear of another war which is deep down in the consciousness of everyone and is behind all they say and do,” said Mr A. T. Donnelly, chairman of directors of the Bank of New Zealand, on his return from a visit to Britain, in if interview yesterday. “The British courage, good humour, and friendliness in the present tough and sinewy times must be seen to be believed, or indeed understood,’’ he said, “The one thing we can do in New Zealand for the people who did so much for us from 1940 to the end of the war is to maintain and increase if we can. the size and frequency of the food parcels, and apart from parcels, the food which goes.from us to Britain.” said Mr Donnelly. “Sending food in bulk to Britain, and making up the parcels there would be cheaper in every way and would save postage, but anyone who has seen a personal parcel opened can see that there is a mental value to an Indi-, vidual recipient which is perhaps worth the postage and the extra cost ” The most important things, he said were fats and tinned meats. Fats and dripping could be used for all purposes, gave a change of diet, and'enabled food such as fish to be cooked in ways now almost forgotten. A tin of tongues meant more than a change, of diet; it meant that the one who had it could ask a friend or relation to come to stay or have a mqal, “It means a revival of hospitality, because in Britain to-day no one has enough rationed food to be a host” aid Mr Donnelly. Rationing “A Miracle” ; “The Londoner is the greatest of them all,” said Mr Donnelly, "There is enough to eat, but only enough, and the food is dull and without variety The rationing scheme is a miracle of fairness and strict and just administration. There is a black market limited by the public conscience and to be found in general only in corners of big cities such as Soho and the West End, and chiefly used by foreigners and visitors.” The life described in the evidence before the inquiry now proceeding in London was the exception to the almost universal rule, added Mr Donnelly. The same foods in the same quantities were on the tables of rich and poor alike, except that In the country there were a few eggs or perhaps an occasional chicken or rabbit off the property. He saw a sheep fatally injured one day. “It was not eaten by the owner or his family but went to the village food officer, with its accompanying forms in triplicate,” he said. Visitors to Britain had many privileges. They could bring food to England with them, or have it sent to them. They had the ordinary food and clothing coupons, special tourist clothing coupons worth at least six times as much in quantity; they could buy new cars, have as much petrol as they could use, and were free from the crushing purchase tax for clothes and goods which they took home. "Britain has come out of the war with its society and its constitution shaken, changed in some degree, but substantially unimpaired. No country for centuries has endured more or perhaps as much, and yet survived. Restrictions, scarcities, "and frustration press heavily on her people, who are without the patriotic stimulus and physical reserves of the war years. No one can doubt that Britain will pull through, and our high standard of living depends on her doing it, but the way will be long and hard,” concluded Mr Donnelly.