BRITAIN'S FOOD

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 155, 3 July 1917, Page 8

BRITAIN'S FOOD

MEAT SUPPLIES . ABUNDANT.

GRAIN ONLY OBJECT OF

; b-reat Britain's ''meatless day" is: to be abolished, because it augments the demand on breads tuffs and other substitutes which are less plentiful than meat. This was announced yesterday by Baron Devonport, who declared that a diminution in the consumption of breadstuffs was of vital moment and a main factor in the situation; but he added: "Provided that the call for a reduction is responded to, and the efforts of the submarines are not successful beyond reasonable likelShood, we shail get through with a fairly sufficient balance at the time the new harvest becomes available*" The , Food Controller's pronouncement was made in answer to a question by Baron Buckmaster.,. who asked if the Government could make any statement regarding the position, of food supplies, .and whether the Government proposed to. taike any immediate steps to make certain ttiat such supplies should ,be equally distributed among all classes of the population.

Continuing his reply, Baron Dewmport said: —

As I recently stated, the consumption of bread has hot yet Been sufficiently reduced in the country generally. Large classes of the community have diminished their consumption, but the pressun©- on the working classes, owing especially to the shortage of potatoes and the severity of the winter and spring, has been so great that it has almost been impossible until recently for them, however willing, to cut down their bread eonsumotion.

pi. "In the meantime, the food conservation campaign, which i& being conducted with great energy, has been greatly stimulated by the action of his Majesty in the proclamation promulgated last week.. TlLowgh it takes some time to bring home to the people generally the reality of the situation, the efforts now being .made are cumulative,":, and we may cifflfidently expect that in the course of the next few weeks they will realise substantial res tilts. .

■ f Apart, however, from ' the. actual consumption of bread, the quantity, of wheat which this country requires, will be lessened by reason of the .'fact that all flour must contain,, under, my milling orders, 10 per cent., more., of the contents of wheat or" grain! than in nbrmal times, and must also have at least 10 per cent, of .o.ther breadstuffs mixed with it. "f may, find it necessary still further i^o increase the extraction of floiir from wheat and to augmentits admixture, with other cereals.'*". ' . ', . '

Discussing, the supply of , other highly important necessaries', Barqri Devonport said that the imports of meat since January 1 were little less than in the corresponding period' of last year, and that the home herds were as large: if not larger, than at any previous period. "With little prospect of a meat shortage so long as my orders were adhered to/ he • continued, "we decided to abolish the meatless day, enforced by the May meats regulation order, as having a tendency to augment the demand on breadstuffs and other substitutes which were less plentiful in supply than meat. The supplies of what are technically known as fats, such as butter, margarine, and lard, have so far been better this year than last year." Regarding the necessity of securing equality of supply among all classes of the people, Boron Devonport said : "In view of the increase of submarine activity and being determined to take no risks of .shortage, we thought it expedient that preliminary steps should be taken, for- a. system of rationing. As this .system will have to he administered by the local authorities, fiome time must necessarily be occupied ''n preparing them for the discharge or their duties."

This portion of Baron -Peronport's speech •undoubtedly v-ras intended as an answer to the demands which are being made by a number of newspapers that the ration system be put into force immediately. The controversy over this point is being waged with considerable heat.