DRASTIC STEPS

Evening Star, Issue 25782, 3 May 1946, Page 5

DRASTIC STEPS

BRITAIN'S RATIONS AGAIN CUT SAVING IN SUGAR AND FATS (Roe. 11 a.m.) LONDON, May 2. Darker bread for Britain was announced by Sir Ben Smith at a Press conference to-night. He announced, first, that the extraction rate of flour from wheat, which on March 10 was increased to 85 per cent., compared with 73 per cent, before the war, would now be raised temporarily to 96 per cent.; secondly, a 25 per cent, reduction in the output of biscuits and similar products; thirdly, a 25 per cent, reduction in the alllocations of sugar and fats for flour confectionery and cakes.

Sir Ben Smith said: “It is hoped that these drastic steps will enable the most stringent period between now and the next harvest to b$ bridged. I am confident the people will.accept these

further reductions in view of the world shortage. I regret, because of the extreme urgency, that it is impossible .to inform the trades concurrently with this Press announcement.” Sir Ben told questioners that he hoped there would be further reductions. The saying in sugar; and fats would be 40,000 tons in each case in a year. The new reductions .would begin in a few days. Sugar had been cut because it was used in flour. The Press Association says the’ cuts in bread and allied confectionery. exceed the worst forecasts by the Ministry before . Sir Ben’s return from his latest visit to the United States. The rise in the extraction rate will mean a loss of animal feeding stuffs amounting over the year to a little under 300,000 tons.