GRAIN CONSUMPTION

Evening Star, Issue 25776, 26 April 1946, Page 7

GRAIN CONSUMPTION

BRITAIN'S REDUCTION MEASURES ,

STANDARD LOAF TO BE IH3 FIFTEEN PER GENT. OFF BEER BREWING (Rec. noon.) LONDON, April 25. The official statement from No. 10 Downing Street, announcing measures to reduce Britain's consumption of grains, stated: — " The Government has now further reviewed the wheat and grain position, and has considered what additional contribution the United Kingdom as an importing country can make to assist countries faced with acute shortages. The United Kingdom has already made substantial savings in the consumption of wheat and grain in order to reduce its demands on world supplies, but the Government is confident that the people of the United Kingdom will readily accept still further reductions in view of the urgent need to give aid to countries faced with famine. " The extraction rate of national flour has already been increased to 85 per cent., compared with an average rate of 73 per cent, before the,war. ".The Government has decided that in addition to the already substantial saving secured, further means must now be taken as part of a national campaign to bring about the utmost practical economy in the use of bread. "As a first step, therefore, the standard 21b loaf will be reduced to I|lb without alteration of price. This will result in a saving of 12£ per cent, in the flour used in the manufacture of bread. It is further decided, in order to effect substantial economy in the consumption of barley, to reduce the brewing of beer to 90 per cent, of pre-war. Production at present is at the rate of 5.42 per cent, above pre-war, so that this decision involves a reduction of about 15 per cent of present production. " The contribution the United Kingdom can make to relieve grain shortages in other countries is limited by the fact that we ourselves are an im-t porting country, dependent for our. main supplies of grain upon exporting countries. Stocks in this country have already receded to a low level. " Nevertheless, as an immediate contribution to the urgent problems facing India, South Africa, certain colonial territories, Unrra countries, and the British zone in Germany, the Government has agreed to divert from the United Kingdom stocks and from shipments en route to the United Kingdom a total of 200,000 tons of grain during April and May. "This loan is made possible by assurances the Government has received from the United States and Canadian Governments regarding future supplies. <