Food For Britain Campaign Said To Be Jeopardised

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 February 1950, Page 5

Food For Britain Campaign Said To Be Jeopardised

[N.Z.P.A. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] LONDON, February 14 (Rec. 9 a.m.) —The Sydney correspondent of the News Chronicle states that Australia’s Food for Britain Fund is being jeopardised by the statements of party leaders in the British election campaign. The secretary of the Australian fund (Mr Harry Simpson) said that during the past few weeks orders-for food parcels placed by Australians had dropped below the minimum of 5000 daily required to justify the continued operation of the Food for Britain Organisation. Cause cf Drop Mr Simpson attributed this drop to: (1) The news of the removal of rationing in Berlin. (2) The claim by the Minister of Food (Mr John Strachey) that Britons had nevei’ been so well fed as at present. (3) Conservative hints that they might relieve petrol rationing if they are returned. This has been taken as an indication that Britain is overcoming her import problems. Australian workers, says Mr Simpson, could not conceive that the British Government would put petrol before food. Unless Mr Strachey or Mr Attlee, preferably with Mr Churchill’s and Mr Clement Davies’s support, declare unequivocally that Britain still needs food parcels, the Australian fund may be forced to close down, adds the correspondent. Repercussions in New Zealand There had been some repercussions in New Zealand, said an official of the Aid for Britain National Council in Wellington last night, states a New Zealand Press Association message. These were in the form of questions from district committees, which asked if the type of statement mentioned in the cable message were a true reflection of the present position in the United' Kingdom. A full statement would be made by the council shortly for the guidance of local committees in their relationships with the public.', ' Y -