FOOD OUTLOOK AUSTRALIAN TROUBLES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 123, 26 May 1945, Page 6

FOOD OUTLOOK AUSTRALIAN TROUBLES

(Special P.A. Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, May 25

The world fo9d shortage has become one of Australia's most urgent problems. New warnings are being sounded that this winter Australians must face a greater degree of austerity than anything they have so far experienced. The Commonwealth's own immediate food production prospects are undeniably worse than at any previous time since the outbreak of war. Drought continues to grip large areas of eastern Australia.

Next season's cereal crops must suffer severely. The shifting of thousands of head of stock to agistment areas in northern New South Wales, the severe rationing of cattle, pig, and poultry feed, and the restriction of flourmilling to one shift a day, are all additional indications of Australia's waxing food problem. "These signs give a warning of less food not1 in the distant future, but long before the winter is over," says the "Sydney Morning Herald" in a leading article today. "Add a steady shrinkage in milk and butter production, and the disturbing nature of the whole food outlook becomes apparent."

The paper adds that Australia's first need is for fodder and cereals, and that all departmental efforts to redistribute supplies within the Commonwealth or to bring consignments from abroad can do little to relieve the position. In spite of the dwindling production, the Federal Minister of Commerce, Mr. J. S. Scully, has declared that Australia will do "all that is humanly possible to fulfil its commitments to the United Kingdom."

Commonwealth food experts, however, suggest that Ausfralian exports to Britain to December 30 this year I may be only 170,000 tons, instead of the 200,000 tons normally exported in pre-war years. They add that while shortages will certainly be more marked, there is little likelihood of further cuts in the actual Australian civilian food ration scale, since no ration cut could provide export quantities sufficient to be worth while. The "Sydney Morning Herald," nevertheless, asks today that Australia should make a practical demonstration of her determination to assist Great Britain to the limit by substituting foo£? still plentiful here for those urgently needed abroad. The newspaper suggests that more vegetables, and less meats and fats, should be eaten within the Commonwealth, and concludes: "If Australia does not cheerfully and promptly accept the obligation to share the current shortages with Britain our people will hereafter hang their heads in shame." FODDER PURCHASED HERE Rec. 9 a.m. CANBERRA, May 25 Another 1000 tons of fodder for Australian stock was purchased in New Zealand this week, the Federal Minister of Commerce, Mr. J. S. Scully, announced today. The Commonwealth Government, he added, was aware that only limited fodder supplies were now available in New Zealand, but as the Australian shortage could not adequately be relieved before next harvest it was essential to arrange for early spring supplies. BRITISH M.P.'S DEATH Rec. 9 a.m. LONDON, May 25 The death has occurred of Mr. J. w Ban field, Labour M.P. lor Wednesbury.