FOOD PROBLEM

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 February 1917, Page 6

FOOD PROBLEM

QUESTION OP PRODUCTION.

COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

LONDON, February 20. The Committee on the Commercial and Industrial Policy, with Lord Balfour, of Burleigh as chairman, recommends that in view of the experience of the war, special steps ought to be talcen to stimulate the production of foodstuffs and raw materials for manufactures within the Empire. Wherever expansion in production is possible and economical it is desh'able for the safety and welfare of the Empire. Therefore the Imperial Government should declare its adherence to a principle of preference for products and manufactures from the Dominions in respect to any Customs duties now or hereafter imposed on imports into the United Kingdom. Further, the committee .»* of opinion 4hat it will be hecessavv soon tc consider, as one of the method of achieving the above objects, the desirability of establishing a wider range of Customs duties, which should be remitted or reduced on products manufactures within the Empire, and which should form a basis for commercial treaties with our Allies and with neutrals. SMITHFIELD MEAT SUPPLIES. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCLITION.T 1 ~- ;'..:,$ J : Received this day at 12.25 p.m. • ; LONDON, February 21. Only British and Allied vessels are allowed to enter Plymouth until further notice. The meat . supplies at Smithfkld last week were 5.059 tons, compared with 6805 tons for the week preceding under voluntary rationing. ■■ ~ ■ , ■ . •'• FOOD PRODUCTION. DEFINITE AGRICULTURAL POLICY. [aUSTBALTAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.] Received this dav at 8.45 a.m. LONDON, February 21. The "Central News" ,says that Mr Lloyd George on Thursday unfolds a definite agricultural policy; much'more than for wartime expediency. He is expected to' assure the farmers of teasonable prices for a fairly long period.