AUSTRALIA’S FOOD

Grey River Argus, 3 December 1943, Page 6

AUSTRALIA’S FOOD

Further Cuts Projected BY THE GOVERNMENT. (Rec. 6.30.) SYDNEY, Dec. 2. Cheerful Australian acceptance of food rationing has been appealed for bv the Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin. Australia, he said, had undertaken to give Britain thirty-five per cent, of its total butter production, ana twenty two per cent, of its egg production. The Prime Minister warned that serious food shortages would continue in spite of the rationing of many products for the civilian users. He said that although meat rationincr w as to be introduced earlv in the New Year, the estimates of meat production, after allowing for the reduced civilian consumption, were still only eighty-seven per cent, of the total requirements. “The Government is determined that its commitments to Britain and its obligations to the fighting forces will be discharged,” declared Mr Curtin. Discussing Australia’s obligations to Britain, the Prime Minister said that Australians should remember that Britain supplied Australia with Spitfires and other vital equipment when she herself was in great danger. <

The “Sydney Herald” comments editoriallv on Mr. Curtin’s statement. It savs that apart from immensely increased needs of the fighting services, Australia’s obligations to Britain have expanded until they have become almost limitless. So far, the incidence of the rationing upon the Commonwealth has been comparatively light, but the paper forecasts the rationing of other food besides meat in the New Year. “Nor is there anvthin- alarming in this,” it sa v £ - “So far we have been among the most fortunate of all warring nations in sunnlies of food. That we must make greater sacrifices so others mav share our bounty has long been obvious.”