FOOD PROBLEM

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1917, Page 6

FOOD PROBLEM

COMMANDEERING LAND,

LOCAL BODIES’ POWERS.

LONDON, -February 21.

Thet Presl-i Bureau states .that the Board of Agriculture will empower local 'authorities, compulsorily to fake over land for allotment purposes with a view; to maintaining the food supply- -

AGRICULTURAL POLICY DE V LAVED.

LONDON, February 22. In the House of Lords, the Duke of Marlborough announced that. Mr. Lloyd George’s statement regarding the Government's agricultural policy had been postponed for a. few clays.

THE WORLD’S WHEAT SUPPLY.

A GERMAN ESTIMATE

BERLIN. Februarv 21

Dr. Helfferioh stare;; that this year s world’s' wheat crop will amJhnt to 56,000,000 tons, against 56,000,000 torts; last year. The bulk of the English grain must be imported from Australia, entailing a triple length of route and therefore triple tonnage.

SCARCITY OF FARM LABOR.

A FURTHER PROTEST,

LONDON, February 21

The National Fanners.’ Union has passed a motion protesting against the calling up of farm laborer,*, and urging the Government to authorise the Minister of Agriculture to retain men who are indispensable. NECESSITY FOR ECONOMY. APPEAL TO FREE CHURCHES.

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.]

Received this day at 8.45 a.m

LONDON, February 22,

Mr. Lloyd George, i*a a letter, to the Rev. H! -Shakespeare, appeals to him. to secure the organised co-opera-tion of the Free Churches in food econ_ omy and incresaed production campaigns;. He says: Speed is essential, because if we miss the spring season this year’s chance is gone.

FARMERS ON STRIKE.

HOW THEY CAN BE DEALT WITH

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.]

LONDON, February 22,

The Liverpool potato merchants assert that the farmers are holding stacks until increased prices operate in March. They passed a resolution of indignation and asked the Lord Mayor to appeal to Lord Devonport. The “Daily -Chronicle’’ states that the Government has decided to guarantee minimum prices for home-grown wheal and oats till three years after the war.

Allegations are made in some quarters of an existence and widespread strike of farmers owing to fixing the maximum prices. It is suggested that the Goyernment ought forthwith to guarantee prices for at least five years. If this does not induce the farmer to utilise his land with reasonable efficiency, probably the existing Order-in-Council, notably the Order cabled yesterday, will be sufficient to enable the Government compulsorily to acquire the land.

ITALIAN ORANGES.

RENT TO ALLIES’ CORNTRIES.

Received this day at 11.45 A.m. ROME, February 23. Italy is forbidding the export of oranges to Switzerland owing to quantities reaching the enemy, Italy has purchased the whole Sicilian crop., which she is sending to Allied countries, Salonika, Mesopotamia and Egypt.

BEBNSTORP DELAYED VESSEL SEARCHED AT HALIFAX.

GRAMOPHONE RECORDS SEIZED.

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.J

Received this dav at 8,45 a.rn

NEW YORK, February 22.

Count BernstorfY’i; party is at Halifax and the vc.isel is still being examined for contraband. They appear to have a singular love of gramophone ifm.sic. A tremendous, stock of records was seized because they contain rubber; also because It is quite possible that .some singer in the United States may supplement touching descriptions in German of the movements of Allied warships to the setting of music.

FURTHER DISCOVERIES.

MUCH LUGGAGE CONFIS-* GATED. • [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.] Deceived-this day at 11.45 a.m. NEW YORK, February 22. The examination of Count Beriistorff’s ship revealed that every member of the German party was plentifully supplied with cotton. One Embassy Secretary had several hundred suits of pyjamas, which will be confiscated, ' The Germans had plenty of gold, which is also contraband. PARTY WELL PROVIDED. PLENTY of pyjamas. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION,] Received this day at 9.35 a.m. HALIFAX, February 22. A oearch of Count Bemslorff’a party shows,'thai each member had supplied himself or herself with everything packing in Germany. v A hundred pairs of pyjamas,, were discovered, which will likely be. coniis cated in Anew of the 1 necessity of prevenOng wool or cotton reaching Germany,