The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1948. MALAYA AND THE ASIATIC RICE PROBLEM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22698, 24 July 1948, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1948. MALAYA AND THE ASIATIC RICE PROBLEM

and unrest throughout Asia have caused a serious reduction \ in the growing of that vital staple food product, rice. As a result, Asia is becoming steadily hungrier, and there is widespread evidence of malnutrition. It is this unhappy state of affairs which is sowing the seed o:L' further unrest, if not of civil war, in some countries. Malaya is a case in point. There the situation is extremely serious. Most of the cablegrams so far received have given the impression that the disturbances, involving murder and general violence, have purely a political significance due to the machinations of the Communists. i A qualifying viewpoint was recently submitted by a New Zealander, Mr. N. M. Clark, who has returned to Dunedin after 30 I- years’ experience in the Far East, including a long period as technical adviser for rice control to the Malayan Government. “Undoubtedly,” said Mr. Clark, “the troubles are inspired by Communists, but the basic cause is the inadequacy of the rice supply, which is about 90 per cent of the Asiatics’'diet. • . . European 1 business men, such as planters, tin miners and merchants, have realised the depth of the troubles, but the Maya lan Civil Service lias allowed matters to drift along. The Asiatics are growing increasingly dissatisfied with their two-ounce ration of rice a day | from supplies allocated through the International Emergency Food Committee in ‘Washington, especially when black market rice is plentiful at high prices.” i In these circumstances it is easy to understand the fertile nature | of the ground for Communist agitation. They reflect conditions on j which communism would thrive anywhere. Mr. Clark concludes I that the present system of a governing body under direct control from Whitehall must be altered and a more representative council appointed by the people. It would be illogical to expect peace and contentment in Malaya if native peoples are to be allowed to suffer , in this way indefinitely. The two ounces of rice a day mentioned by Mr. Clark may be a conservative estimate. A special correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald states that in Malaya the ration since last May has been four-and-a-half ounces for a man, three ounces for a woman, and two ounces for a child. “But,” be adds, “the average Asiatic male cats—or would like to eat—from 12 to 16 ounces of rice a day. That represents from 1200 to 1600 calories, as against the present 450 calories for a male. It is clear, therefore, that however the estimates of the existing ration may vary, the most liberal of them falls woefully short of an adequate diet. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that it is now necessary to take strong measures to deal with the violence and unrest. But there will be no permanent solution until further rice supplies, as well as guns, are sent to the distressed population. But how. it may be asked, will rice be found for the purpose of satisfying the demand? The Sydney correspondent says the Malayan Government is making great efforts increase rice production with fertilisers, improved seed and irrigation; it hopes that the country will eventually be self-supporting. Siam is also planning an irrigation scheme to double her production. But these and other plans may take anything from five to seven years to fulfil. Australia is doing her best to help by sending (o Malaya most of the Murrembidgee output, thus depriving the home market of the product. All in all, however, the immediate prospects are not bright unless anything can be done to distribute evenly the black market rice which Mr. Clark says is plentiful-