BRITAIN’S FOOD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 285, 2 November 1939, Page 9

BRITAIN’S FOOD

VERY LITTLE SHORTAGE. NO MEAT RATIONING. POSITION REVIEWED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received November 1, 10.30 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 1. The Minister for Food (Mr W. S. Morrison), in a statement .in the House of Commons, stated that bacon and butter rationing from .the middle of December would probably amount to fopr ounces each weekly per individual ration. Books were being issued to customers who were requested to register with a retailer of their own choice. He added that it was not necessary to ration meat and sugar, supplies of which were sufficient for normal requirements.

Ho emphasised the importance of avoiding food wastage. The four ounce ration would depend on the continuance of the present ra.te of supply. Bacon and butter were perishable and could not be stored. Therefore no reserve existed at the outbreak of the war. Supplies were expected to increase but imports from Europe were reduced and there was insufficient time to fill the gap from more distant sources. The amount of rationing would depend on the supply from time to t-ime.

Mr Morrison reviewed the position of several other commodities. In the case of sugar supplies in sight, both home-produced and imported were sufficient for normal requirements. His conclusion was that there was no need at present to impose rationing for any commodity other than bacon and butter. The manufacture of margarine had been greatly increased since, the outbreak of war and the quantity of cooking fats available was equal to normal. REDUCTION IN IMPORTS. In the case of meat, lor which Britain was dependent upon imports for about one half of its requirements, adequate supplies should continue to be available. During the last few weeks there had been some reduction in the volume of imported supplies available in certain districts, 'this had been due to additional allocations to the fighting services coupled with the inevitable delay in the arrival of meat ships while the convoying oi merchant shipping was being organised. Supplies in sight, however, for the future —home-produced and imported —were ample to meet all reasonable requirements both of the services and the civilian population.. Meat rationing was therefore not considered necessary at present.