STANDARD FOOD POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 24002, 29 September 1941, Page 8

STANDARD FOOD POLICY

POST-WAR REQUIREMENTS MR NOEL BAKER'S SUGGESTIONS (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 28. Speaking at the conference of international scientists convened by the British Association during the session discussing ‘ Science and Rost-war Relief,” Mr Philip Noel Baker (Labour M.P.) suggested that a sound food policy giving a “ minimum standard for maximum health,” should be the basis for any long-term scheme for postwar relief. “ In the Atlantic Charter now endorsed by all the Allies, 16 Governments have pledged themselves to establish a peace which will afford an assurance that all men in all lands shall live out their lives in freedom from want,” Mr Baker said. 11 How are the Governments going to do it? It will bo a difficult job. What easier and what sounder start could the Government make than by an international agreement to strive by every means to ensure an international food standard to all citizens living in their ■respective lands? If we could fix a high minimum demand for every kind of foodstuff we would go very far towards stopping slumps, for twothirds of all the world’s population still live and labour on the land, and the stability of the markets for their products is by far the most important single factor in controlling the fluctuations of world trade. “ The United States would nped to use at home all its agricultural products except cotton, tobacco, and a little wheat. Great Britain would have to produce from 50 to 70 per cent, more food and vegetables and nearly 100 per cent, more butter and milk, and, in consequence, would .give up growing wheat, sugar, and beet. France would, have to reduce her wheat production from 100 per cent, to 70 per cent, of her requirements. Switzerland would have to give up growing wheat. In some countries such , as, for example, Hungary the whole system of agricultural production and indeed of land tenure would have to be changed. “ These things could easily be done if, starting from the basis of an international standard of diet, world production was adequately and intelligently planned. A far more difficult problem is that of consumption and purchasing power in the hands of the individual man.” Mr Baker hoped and believed that after the war the International Labour Office would be compelled to work for an international minimum food standard. ABYSSINIAN CAMPAIGN ITALIAN GARRISON SURRENDERS LAST RESISTANCE GRUMBLING (Rec. 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. A Romo communique states; “ Our garrison at Wolchefit has been ordered to cease fighting.”* NORTHERN OUTPOST (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11.55 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 28. The Italian’ announcement that the garrison at Wolchefit, in the Gondar area of Abyssiania, had received orders to cease hostilities on September 26 is not yet confirmed in London. Wolchefit is in a mountain pass 60 miles from the Gondar road, and its strategic importance lies in being the northern outpost of the area. The garrison was estimated some time ago at 3,000 white soldiers and 10,000 natives. The figures represent nearly half the remaining white soldiers and about a third of the total Italian forces still holding out. The surrender is likely to be very disheartening to the remaining troops in the Gondar area. SINKING OF ARGENTINE SHIP SENATE URGES ANOTHER PROTEST (Rec. 12.5 p.m.) BUENOS AIRES, September 28. A senate resolution urged the Administration to again protest to Germany against the sinking of the Argentine ship Uruguay. This is interpreted as a challenge to Dr Costillo (Acting President), who chided the Chamber of Deputies for censuring the German Ambassador, von Tbcrmann. Newspaper critics reported that von Thermann would leave the country within a few days of his own accord.

ROYAL ORDNANCE FACTORY DISMISSAL OF CHEMIST (Rec. 8 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. The Association of Scientific Workers is taking up the case of a chemist formerly employed in the Royal Ordnance Factory who was dismissed, allegedly because he wrote an article criticising inefficiencies in inanitions manufacture. He was ostensibly dismissed for inefficiency. Dr Jed Swann, referring to the case before the British Association conference, said that this revealed a state of affairs in which the existence of incompetent control was being concealed by the use of extremist measures. OPEN AIR SERVICE RUINS OF ALL HALLOWS CONDUCTED BY TOG H. FOUNDER (Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. A large congregation attended an open-air service this afternoon amid the ruins of the Church of All Hallows by the Tower, conducted by the rector of the Tower (the Rev. P. B. Clayton). founder and head of “Toe H.” He said it was probably the first parish church to be built in Great Britain, having been founded in a.d. 670, and was certainly the oldest church in the City of London. Ho hoped a new church would arise on the site.