AUSTRALIA’S FOOD

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1942, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S FOOD

RATIONING OF SUPPLIES j (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent). | . SYDNEY, May 6. “Australians will have to put up with the rationing of products other than tea, before the war goes much further.” . The foregoing is the warning of Mr J. Beasley, the Commonwealth Minister of Supply. Mr. Beasley emphasises, however, that Australia has adequate stocks of essential foods, though it is a major problem to transport these supplies to the centres of population where they are m demand. Plans are in train, he states, lor the distributing of vital supplies to keypoints throughout the Commonwealth As part of these plans the Federal Supplv Department has organised a drive "ol more than thirty thousand cattle from the Northern areas. There have been slaughtering and canning depots organised in Western Australia and in Queensland. This Supply Department is primarily responsible for the providing of food for the Allied fighting services. There has recently been established the Australian I Food Council, which is concerned with the ensuring of adequate supplies of essentia] foods for civilians. “No one will go short of anything that is necessary for physical wellbeing,” states Mr. Beasley; “but the present facilities for obtaining all types of good food may not continue. The co-operation of the Army is being secured so as to ensure that agricultural production shall be maintained, and even expanded. The New South Wales Government has contracted to buy forty thousand tons of vegetables from farmers this season. Greater vegetable production is considered to be necessary. Householders are being urged to do their part by increased planting. “If ten thousand of the householders grew vegetables in their own backyards, Sydney’s vegetable position would be infinitely better,” declares the N.S.W. Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Dunn. . * Agriculture experts estimate that Sydney could grow eighty per cent, of its vegetable needs, though it is at the moment growing only ten per cent. At the most, an area of sixty thousand acres is normally planted with vegetables in New South Wales.' The increased service and civilian needs make it necessary that the area should be increased to between eighty and one hundred thousand acres. No primary products will be exported from Australia this year, until full provision is made for the Australian and Allied fighting services

and civilian population, says a Supply Department spokesman. There are considerable surpluses of sugar, rice, meat, and wheat being held. One of the principal problems to be faced is that of processing and converting these into foodstuffs that can be stored. Of butter and cheese, there are stated to be ample stocks. None will be exported until the position is reviewed by the Food Council, which is expected to meet shortly. Potatoes are in need of control. It is hoped, by publicity methods, to induce a greater consumption of rice in the place of potatoes. Representatives of the farming and pastoral organisations emphasise the serious consequences at a continued agricultural labour shortage. Dairying, pig farming, and vegetable raising, which require expansion, urgently need labour. Hundreds of poultry farms are stated to have been closed since the war, because of the labour problem. SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT. (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent). (Rec. noon). SYDNEY, May 7. Agitation over the Sunday entertainment of troops and war workers continues in Sydney. A considerable voice in public opinion appears , to feel that the Government’s decision

to permit one flesh-and-blood and one picture theatre in the city (beginning next Sunday) does not go far enough. American and Australian Army representatives intimated that this would meet their needs.

The controversy now wages around the question of extending equal privileges to the vast numbers engaged .in essential munitions work. Those responsible hope to secure permission for the opening of certain suburban theatres.

Mr. Curtin has put the onus on the State Premiers. He says: “If something cannot be left to the Premiers, I see no reason for State Governments. If entertainment and hotel hours are considered insufficient, that is a matter between the public and the State Government concerned. I am not doing any more about it.” Federal national security regulations, sanctioning Sunday theatres, have still to be gazetted. No legislation will be passed repealing the State laws affecting Sunday observance. The move is entirely a war emergency measure.

A prominent theatrical personality defined the Sydney action as the “feeblest possible sop to the people—a sop to those who want the theatres shut, and a sop to those who want them open. It is also a disgraceful insult to munitions workers and other war workers who are not in uniform.”

No decision has yet been reached concerning the Sunday entertainment of troops stationed in New South Wales outside the Sydney area. In Western Australia, Sunday night shows have been held for some time. South Australian theatres are now open to troops, while the Tasmanian Government has opened the theatres to war workers as well as troops. An undertaking is given that “all features not keeping the spirit of Sunday will be eliminated, and the churches can be assured of a genuine desire to maintain the sanctity of Sunday.” The theatres make no profit by their shows. Any profit goes to patriotic and charity funds. A representative of the United States Army, whose cry “Give us Sunday shows, or we will make our own,” started the present agitation, declined to comment when asked if he thought that two theatres in Sydney would accommodate all the troops wishing to attend. Meanwhile, Sydney is awaiting with interest the outcome of the first Sunday night theatre entertainments.