THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY "Public Service.” MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1947 BRITISH GRATITUDE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 56, Issue 32873, 23 June 1947, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY "Public Service.” MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1947 BRITISH GRATITUDE

New Zealanders could scarcely refrain from a blush of embarrassment when reading of the high praise given the Dominion in the House of. Commons. The Under-Secretary for the Dominion emphasised the generosity of New Zealand in making food available, and there was reference to New Zealand’s “ great drive for food for Britain during the past few months.”

The desire of New Zealanders to help the British people during their food crisis could not be less constant or enthusiastic, but this desire certainly did not get full expression in the couponsaving scheme. And although there has been a very creditable and sustained effort in the despatch of gift parcels and in community schemes the country as, a whole feels that much more could be done, first to produce more food and second to ship it more promptly to Britain. There has been no “great drive” for food worthy of the name; nor indeed has there been a move for any stricter rationing of food in New Zealand. - The need for an “ all-out ” effort to produce more food was emphasised starkly last week by the British Paymaster-General who states that Britain’s fooLi rations may be cut by half if the production drive fails. He added: “Britain must get through the next 18 months somehow or we shall smash.” New Zealand’s response to this crisis should be a nation-wide call for every ounce of co-ordin-ated effort, from the farmer to the watersider. Britain’s food difficulties are now greater than at any time during the war and it remains to be seen if New Zealand. in peacetime can achieve the unity and purpose of wartime. Anything less will mean failure in an urgent and commanding task.