GERMAN DECREE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 62, 10 September 1937, Page 7

GERMAN DECREE

POOR HARVEST

THREAT

CROPS REQUISITIONED

Drastic measures have been taken by the German Government to safeguard the bread supply, said the Berlin correspondent of the "Daily Tele-bi-aph" on July 28.

Owing to' the threat of a poor harvest it was decided that' this year's entire crop of wheat and rye must be handed over to the Government by farmers throughout Germany. Severe penalties will be imposed on anyone causing danger of destruction of crops by fire through smoking or other action.

The commandeering of crops is provided for by a decree published today by Dr. Darre, Minister for Food Supplies and Agriculture, in conjunction .with, .General Goering, acting in his capacity of Commissioner for the Four Years Self-sufficiency Plan. The only wheat which need not be handed over is that required for sowing purposes or for the consumption of farmers themselves and their labourers.

The decree also forbids the use of corn or flour as fodder for animals, the bnly exception being corn unsuited for grinding. Farmers are not to feed their corn to their own poultry, but it is. stated that fodder in -adequate quantities will be distributed by the Ministry of Agriculture, "with due regard to the economic situation."

FIXED PRICES PAYABLE.

Today's decree follows one issued three weeks ago whereby all middlemen were required to place a percentage, varying from 10 to 15,- of their purchases of rye at the disposal of the army; The obligation to hand over the crops was in operation last year to a modified extent. It is combined with the system of fixed prices payable by the authorities responsible for the food supply. In April it was laid down that no private stocks of wheat exceeding the average requirements for three weeks might be accumulated. The present regulation supersedes these provisions by earmarking the. whole crop. Since the beginning of March trade in barley and oats for brewing and other industrial purposes has been forbidden, with minor exceptions. To ensure the supply of oats for. the army the military authorities have been legally permitted to pay more than the maximum prices.-

Writing in the "Berliner Tageblatt" the German agricultural expert, Baron yon de Ropp, states that the substitute fodder for animals, which will be provided by the German Government in place of rye and wheat, will consist chiefly of maize and barley. This can be purchased cheaply in the world markets at present. ■ Hitherto, one-third of the total German rye crop of 7,500,000 tons has been used for fodder and, in addition, 500,000 tons of corn was given to poultry. These amounts will now be available for human consumption.

POLICE PRECAUTIONS.

Herr Himmler, the chief of the German police forces, has issued instructions that the police, including the gendarmerie and criminal police, are to take special precautions to ensure thai, the crops when brought in are protected from danger of fire. He points out.that every-year fires caused by carelessness lead to the destruction of stocks of gram which would suffice for the nourishment of 200 000 people. If, he continues, workers smoke pipes or cigarettes _near + to com stacks or thrashing machines, the police will take severe action. They will also punish those responsible if the engines used to drive agricultural machinery are'not properly adjusted so as to ensure that there is no danger of ignition from sparks. Similar precautions are to be taken in. mills to prevent fires from breaking out. . . . . Both old and new premises are to "be carefuly inspected to ascertain that, all the necessary steps have been taken. The police are instructed topay surprise visits to mills, thrashing floors, barns,-and fields so,as to detect offenders. .' . ' ' „ \ The -recent discovery of the Colorado beetle, the pest much dreaded by : potato' growers, in the Khineland frontier districts, has led to another drastic order by the Ministry of Agriculture. This forbids for the rest of the year the import into or transport through Germany of potatoes, tomatoes any forms of roots and bulbs, carrots,' asparagus, mushrooms, etc., from France, Belgium, or Luxembourg. . It was recently stated that owing to the probable shortage of the wheat harvest potatoes would have to be considered as a staple diet.