BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLIES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 285, 17 November 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLIES.

STRAIN COMING IN 1917. BOARD OF TRADE PRECAUTIONS. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.J London, Nov. 15. In the House of Commons, Mr. W. A. S. Hewins moved that it was the Government’s duty to adopt further methods of organisation to increase the national food supply and so diminish the risk of shortage in the event of the war being prolonged. He stated that we were faced with a permanent increase of prices which would last many years. The problem was primarily one of production. We should adopt a national agriculture policy. Mr. Runciman (President of the Board of Trade) said that the. strain this country would have to bear in 1917 was primarily one of food supplies. Tragic as it might be, it was more severe in Austro-Germany. He declared that it was unnecessary to stimulate the production of wheat in Canada or Australia. Canada’s crop was abundant and transport was easy. Next year we would have I to depend on Australian supplies. In fact we had commandeered a large fleet. The artificial rates had been based on the problem of transport. We had also encouraged Australian production. The food | problem was shared by France and Italy. Their Governments regarded the whole shipment of wheat for the Allies as one problem to be dealt with by one requisitioned fleet. He expected that the half-year’s production of shipping would approach half a million tons. He was arranging for pooling the engineering efforts on the Tyne and elsewhere and was bringing ’back hundreds of skilled workers from the front. In a normal year we could build practically the whole tonnage lost since the war. Germany knew that we had chartered neutral ships; hence the subI marine warfare. The Government was taking powers to prevent the undue profits of potato growers and milk sellers, it would be necessary ! to dispense with some forms of food, especially elaborate confectionary. IA food controller would be necessary to co-ordinate activities. Powers would be taken to prescribe the purposes for which articles could be used and prosecute persons wasting or destroying food. If the voluntary effort at economy failed, drastic measures would be necessary. He proposed to prohibit the milling of fine white flour ; thus raising the yield 8| per cent. The Government was taking powers to 1 regulate the market and prevent cornering. It would deal with the sale and distribution of articles in order to be in a position to act immediately if necessity arise. It would use food tickets. It did not propose to fix minimum prices, but asked power to fix fair prices. He had been told that the country wanted to be governed. He asked the House to give the Cabinet power to govern. MEMBERS’ CRITICISMS. Sir Edward Carson said that the House expected more drastic proposals. The country should be told that the difficulties were due to the reduction of tonnage by submarines rather than to illegitimate profits. He hoped the food controller would be a dictator with power to snub the departments if they failed to do what he required. Mr. G. J. Wardle, on behalf of the Labour party, welcomed’ the proposals. He was of opinion that the country’s resources ought to have been organised on the outbreak of war. He expected that Mr. Runciman would have to go yet further in this direction. FOOD CONTROLLER TO BE APPOINTED. Mr. Runciman explained that the bill would be passed at the earliest moment, embodying the Government’s proposals, borne would be immediately practicable under existing powders, notably those relating to milk contracts, potato stocks ana flour milling. The food controller would be appointed immediately. A suitable man had been found, and he would have drastic powers. The Board of Trade regarded him as the most essential man in the Empire. Demonstrating the necessity of treating the big shipbuilding centres as one concern, Mr. Runciman instanced that sixteen vessels in the Wearside yards were awaiting engines. He had arranged to concentrate on the most advanced vessels, and hoped at the end of the year that no vessels would lie half-finish-ed. He regarded the new construction as the most important part of the shipping system. There was a temporary steel shortage, but he hoped the result of the Munition Ministry’s action would produce ample supplies by the new year. 78 PER CENT. RISE SINCE 1914. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] (Received 17, 8.55 a.m.) London, Nov. 16. The Board of Trade Labour Gazette states that the average retail food prices on the Ist of November was 5 per cent, higher than it

was a month earlier. Compared with July, 1914, prices have increased 78 per cent.

NEW ZEALAND VISITORS. MR. MASSEY AT CORK. London, Nov. 16. Mr. Massey at Cork, acknowledg ing the presentation of the Freedom of the City, said the public of Great Britain and the dominions was now anxious for closer union. The statesmen of Great Britain must take advantage of the present opportunity by giving a lead in connection with the building up of a great Imperial edifice whereof the foundations would be well and truly laid by the present war. It was a splendid thing for representative men of the dominions to visit the United Kingdom and see the people well abreast of the times and not decadent as the Austro-Germans deluded themselves into believing. It was equally important for Britishers to visit, the dominions to gain an idea of the real potentialities of the Empire.

PRINCE GEORGE OF BATTENBURG. MARRIES RUSSIAN COUNTESS. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] (Received 17, 9.35 a.m.) London, Nov. 16. King George, Queen Mary. Queen Alexandra and other Royalties, with many notables, including Sir J. Ward, attended the wedding of Prince George of Battenburg to the ' Countess Nada Torby, daughter of the Grand Duke Michael. The New Zealand's bluejackets attached a rope to the bridal car and drew it through the streets. [Prince George of Battenburg will be remembered as having been a midshipman on the battle cruiser New Zealand during her visit to the Dominion. He has since been promoted to lieutenant. His father, Admiral Prince Louis of Battenburg, was, at the outbreak of war, First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, while his mother, the Princess Victoria, is a granddaughter of the late Queen Victoria. , Prince George had his 21th birthday on the 6th instant. The Countess Nada Torby, whom he has married, is a niece of the Czar of Russia, her father, the Grand Duke Michael, being his brother. 1

INDIAN WHEAT. FOR BRITAIN AND ALLIES. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] (Received 17, 12.10 p.m.) London, Nov. 16. The Wheat Commission has arranged with the Indian Government to sanction the export of 400,000 tons of wheat to Britain. France ami Italy. The shipments will be made in November, December and January. LONDON NEWS ITEMS. A message, from Paris states that Carpentier has been mentioned a third time in dispatches for his work as a signalling scout during the recapture oLDouaumont. He has been decorated with the military medal.