Parliament On The Air

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 243, 11 July 1938, Page 13

Parliament On The Air

Sir,—While listening to Parliament on the air I heard the Minister of Labour state that “at the time of the Irish famine more potatoes were consumed than ever before.” This amazing statement shows very clearly that the Minister does not know history as taught in our primary schools. If the word “famine” is defined as “an insufficient supply of foodstuffs to maintain the population.” then there has never been a famine in Ireland’s history. But there has been a potato famine, caused by a failure of the crop due to blight—the same kind of blight that is so well known now to our farmers and gardeners. This “potato famine” happened (writing from memory) about 1845—probably the most momentous and interesting period in England’s history. The failure of the crop was termed “a famine” not because there was an insufficiency of food, but because the Irish peasant was so poor (and potatoes so cheap and easily grown) that they were unable to purchase oother foods. And the Minister says “more potatoes were consumed” during the famine—they were, 'by the 'blight, put not by the people. If the -Minister will spend _ his spare hours in reading the 'biographies of some of Britain's greatest statesmen—Beaconsfield,. Salisbury, Gladstone, and Chamberlain? to name a few —he may then be. in a position to quote history with a modicum ol success.-—I «». «... VIHITDg;

Wanganui, July 9.