FOOD SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 7

FOOD SITUATION

i British Civilians And Soldiers CRITICS OF RATIONS Survey By Minister In House Of Lords (British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) RUGBY, February 18. A debate on the food situation was raised in the House of Lords by Lord Bledisloe, who asked if the Government was satisfied as to the prospective availability during the current year of all essential food in sufficient quantity to provide adequate rations lor the civilian population, the fighting forces, and tlie indispensable Navy. A complaint that the ration for military trainees was at least 50 per cent, more nutritious than the civilians’ ration, though in many instances they were doing less work, was made by Lord Bledisloe. He said that cheese was lhe chief substitute for meat, but. farm workers who needed cheese were found taking a midday meal of bread and jam because cheese was unobtainable. The soldiers had four times as much bacon and ham as the civilians, three and a half times the amount of butchers’ meat. tw<. and a half times the amount of butter and margarine, and over twice tlie amount of sugar and 30 per cent, more tea. These differences, he said, seemed improper if Britain wanted full value from the labour of the civilians. Lord Addison, agreeing with Lord Bledisloe, declared: “When a soldier is on leave his meat ration keeps bis family for a week, We want to feed the soldier generously but in some instances the rations are excessive.” Lord Dawson expressed the view that, there should be more near equitation by the food granted to the forces and to civilians, particularly as this was a totalitarian war, the first of its kind, in which civilians contributed a larger measure of fighting than ever before. He asked, therefore, for the resumption of the Army ration. Replying to the debate, the Minister of Food, Lord Woolton. referred to the submarine danger and remarked that the problem was to get the most essential foods into the country. So long as people knew the problem and knew that they were being handled impartially and with courage and foresight, they would face up to them. Strong Bread Ration. He described the bread ration as strong. Supplies were ample and the public substantially unchanged as compared with the pre-war period. Assisted by scientific advice he bad been assured that there would be an : adequate supply of white bread for those who, some considered, were illI advised enough to desire it. There would also, in tlie months to come, be fortified bread, and in this the authorities were following the Americans, who were already engaged iu this fortification of bread. For others there would be wholemeal bread in quantities to meet their needs. The greatest weakness was in lhe animal protein group—bacon, eggs, cheese, and meat. He did not disguise that he was greatly concerned about the shortage of some of these commodities, particularly cheese. Regarding meat, we had during the war. until the last few months, eaten probably a great deal more than was good for ns. When the meat ration was 2/2 a head the consumption was only 1/9. Enough Energy Food. Then the authorities were faced with tlie issue that ships of a certain size and speed normally, to a considerable extent, engaged in bringing meat to England were required to take troops to the Mediterranean. lie saw no possibility of getting those ships back while the Mediterranean campaign continued, and no possibility of raising the meat rations from 1/2. But meat was not the only food that was imported. There were potatoes and other vegetables, oils and fats. A store of oils and fats had been built up on which we could rely for a long time, and with the milk supply it would provide all the energy food needed. As regarded feeding stuffs for pigs, poultry, cattle, and sheep the problem again was that of ships. Lord Wool- ■ ton said we must maintain our dairy I herds at whatever cost. After exI pressing satisfaction with the national I milk scheme, he added that farmers I had been asked to produce crops that i would make the dairy herd as little I dependent as possible on imported food. As to vegetables, there was a surplus of potatoes. The supplies of fruit would not be more than 50 per cent, of what they had been in the past. This gave a new importance to the carrot. and the Minister of Agriculture would ask for 30,000 acres to be planted this year. Fourteen thousand acres of'onions would also be planted. Lord Woolton said he was working out a plan to ensure that cheese went to those who particularly needed it. Grown Luxurious. We had grown luxurious in our 1 standards, he proceeded. It was inii possible for any nation to wage war and live up to the standard wo had grown accustomed to. We must he ready for greater restrictions. We would have to go hack to the years of simpler living, when we depended on our own land. When in it we grew a very healthy race lhat made the modern world of today. We would br no worse either in body or mind for a great dependence on the tilings we could grow. “Our plans for home production and for importation have been carefully correlated,'' said Lord Woolton. "Au agricultural policy has been worked out to a plan. The Agriculture Committees of the country have beffli told just, what we want, and the evidence of last year has demonstrated quite clearly that the farmers will leave nothing in their capacity undone to meet the nation's needs." Stocks of powdered milk, of Which importation of all that could be gor from overseas had been arranged, were held so that in the event of emergency it would be possible to ensure that, children and tlie hospitals were supplied with milk. Oranges would be imported to tlie greatest po<_ sible extent of our capacity. Regarding military rations. Lord Woolton said that representations to the military authorities on the lines suggested by Lord Dawson had met with a cordial response, and it would not be long liefb're something was done to meet the criticism so fairly made.