ADVICE TO BRITONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 47, 24 August 1939, Page 14

ADVICE TO BRITONS

PUT A WEEK'S FOOD IN STORE

Suggestions to traders and householders for strengthening the country's food position are contained in the leaflet "Your Food in War-time," 15,000,000 copies of which will be distributed, said the London "Daily Telegraph" on July 27. To householders it is suggested that a week's supply of non-perishable food, such as meat and fish in cans_ or glass jars, flour, suet, canned or dried milk, sugar, tea, cocoa, and plain biscuits should be stored. "When you have laid in your store, the leaflet goes on, "you should draw on it regularly for day-to-day use, replacing what you use by new purchases, so that the stock in your cupboard is constantly being changed. You may find it helpful to label the articles with the date of purchase." ADVICE TO TRADERS. In advice to traders and on war-time measures the leaflet states: — "In the ordinary way the stocks of food are based on the extent of the local demand, or the size of the local population. In war-time the amount of stocks in any area might be affected by air raid damage, or the flow of supplies might be reduced temporarily by transport difficulties. "As an additional precaution against difficulties of this kind, traders will be doing a good service now by maintaining, and if possible increasing, their stocks, so far as they can. DUTY OF GOVERNMENT. "Should war come the Government would take over responsibility for obtaining the main food supplies for the country, and for distributing them through all the stages down to the consumer. This would ensure that every precaution could be taken against war-time risks. The prices of food would be controlled and supplies directed wherever they were needed.! "In each area food control would j be in the hands of a local committee, which would be set up at the outbreak of war. The membership of these committees would be chosen to represent the general body of consumers in the area. It would include a few retail traders who possess a first-hand working knowledge of trading conditions. "The principal duty of these local Food Control Committees would be to look after the interests of consumers. They would also be responsible for supervising retail distribution. Shopkeepers would be licensed to trade by these committees. "In the first instance rationing would be applied to five foodstuffs; butcher's meat, bacon, and ham, sugar, butter, and margarine, and cooking fats."