The Manawatu Daily Times Well-Fed Britain

Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7454, 3 May 1934, Page 6

The Manawatu Daily Times Well-Fed Britain

While farmers in the greater part of the world are producing at ruinous prices, only one country, Britain, is enjoying tiic benefits of really cheap food. For several years the peop e of Britain have been supplied with food at less than cost, and the glut which stiil continues makes it possible for the grea majority of the population to enjoy an abundant and varied diet. Even in 1932, the year of deepest depression, the average family was better fed than a few years before; indeed, the increase in food consumption was remarkable. Though statistics show that less beef was eaten, this was more than offset by tne increase in mutton, lamb and bacon, and by a large addition to the supply of eggs, milk, dairy produce and other products which figure in the ordinary family budget. To Eew Zeaiam the increase in the consumption of butter, of which much ms been heard, is of special interest, and there can be no doubt that low prices have ousted margarine from many thousands or British homes. If prices rise, margarine will return to many of those homes. From 1928 to 1933 the consumption of-butter increased from 151 pounds to 23 pounds per head of the population, and the heavy importations of Britain during the past few months indicate a further steady rise. Evidence like us is the best reply that can be made to those who bemoan Britain s dependence upon imported food, and it appears that the low cost of living has been one of the principal factors contributing to the comparatively happy position of the country. But for the undiminished supply of cheap food there must have oeen dire distress in some of the depressed industrial areas, thus throwing a still heavier burden on the unemployment funds. Germany, France and Italy, by their efforts to grow costly foodstuffs for their own needs, have unintentionally helped Britain while stinting themselves, but the British producer has been hit hard, and the Government has had to come to lus rescue. The question rises, how much price-raising will the British consumer stand after having enjoyed cheap food for so long a period f Physique of Britain Field-Marshal Lord Milne, in a recent speech, said that lie was shocked by the number of candidates for commissions m the Army, and for enlistment in other ranks, who failed to reach the comparatively low standard of physique required. He found further that leaders of boys’ clubs, who had special knowledge of the young population in general, were gravely concerned by the amount of physical defects in the youth of to-day. The physique of the nation was bad. There was no sound method of physical training in Britain; the subject was trifled with; no lead was given by anybody to the young men. lie dangerous period followed school life, and the chief harm to physique was done between the school-leaving age and maturity. There was an urgent need for places where youth could have its wholesome fling, exercising and developing the body under cover. It was an extraordinary fact that in Britain there was nothing corresponding in any general way with the purposeful development of physique which was a national objective m many other countries to-day. The physique of British manhood was being left to chance. But fit manhood was essential if the nation was to survive. If something was not done the nation would go'from bad to worse.