ACUTE FAMINE

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 August 1946, Page 2

ACUTE FAMINE

STARVATION PROSPECT IN

INDIA

THREE MILLION IN DANGER (P.A.) AUCKLAND, August 5. With-3,000,000 threatened by star-vation,-a food crisis exceeding the grim Bengal famine of 1943 faces India, according to Major Royston Brown, of Mount Albert, who has returned to Auckland from Tin appointment as special officer for post-war reconstruction to the provincial Government of Assam. Major Brown left New Zealand 10 years ago as a Baptist missionary, but when war broke out he joined the Indian Army, and later temporarily assumed duties with the Assam administration.

Major Brown said the prospect of an acute famine after the failure of the monsoon was creating the greatest concern in India, and even at the time of political crisis party leaders had appealed for unity in combating hunger and organising relief measures. There were many already starving. Although efforts were being- made to import grain from Australia and the United States it seemed very doubtful whether a grave food shortage could be averted. “Millions are now limited to one meal a day,” Major Brown said. “Some evidence of famine was already to be seen in the emaciated condition of some Indians in Madras when I passed through the city some weeks ago. The only bright spot is that the Government appreciated the situation several months ago, and unlike the Bengal famine, their early realisation of the grave prospects may avert the? worst of the crisis.” - .

After a year’s furlough in New Zealand Major Brown will return to India to resume his original work for the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society. >