The MANAWATU DAILY Times FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1936. A Banker Looks at Bread

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 67, 20 March 1936, Page 6

The MANAWATU DAILY Times FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1936. A Banker Looks at Bread

It is not often that the annual review of bank chairmen are devoted to the problems of the people’s eating habits. Generally they are concerned with the statistics of trade and finance. But this year Colin Campbell, head of the National liovincial Bank, one of Britain’s “Big Five,” departed from precedent. Not only did he review the humble problems of the people’s food; lie urged that the time had arrived when the Government should see that the people had more of it. The speech sounded more like a social reformer talking than the chairman of a banking institution. The speech, indeed, is a reflection of what the British, high and low, are thinking. King Edward Vlll is reputed to be concerned with the people’s housing. Britain has already done notable work in clearing out the worst of the slum areas and in prodding decent homes for the poor. Of course the project has necessitated public subsidies. But the British no longer blink at. that. In regard to food, British opinion seems to be turning along much the same channel of social thought. T ood anti shelter are, after all, basic human needs. If society is unable to distribute both sufficiently to maintain what is called in Britain an A-l population, then the Government must take over the function. This is the implication of recent British thought. Undernourishment in a country which has gone to undreamed heights of material prosperity since the industrial revolution is a matter of public record. Last year Sir John Orr startled the British Association and the British nation with the latest survey. Tic said tliat, in order to provide the people with proper sustenance, consumption of milk should be increased 12 per cent.; of fruit and vegetables, 53 per cent.; of butter and eggs, 25 per cent. In giving those figures Sir John unfolded a national task. It was to “marry health and agriculture.” Newspapers such as the Times (London) began to read like social service organs. Recently that newspaper expressed horror that boys transferred from derelict areas in Cumberland had made their first acquaintance with eggs as food and did not know how to eat them. The pressure on the Government is now coming from the bank parlours. A people tuiited above the clamour of partisanship in such a beneficent undertaking can remove , mountains of economic difficulties.

“Any suggestion of lower prices for flour under the recently-instituted control scheme is a myth,” states an Auckland baker. “Although the price appears lower the difference is more than made up by the withdrawal of certain privileges.” Similar statements have been made by several bakers.

Though they have not yet had time to feel the full effects of the recent fixation of wholesale and retail petrol prices, resellers in the Wellington city and suburban area who have been npp.oached were enthusiastic about the results of the action of the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan. The opinion of one man, that the effect had been exactly what resellers had hoped it would be, was supported by a large number of suppliers and re-sellers.

A cable from London announces that Lady Angela Montagu Douglas Scott, sister and bridesmaid to the Duchess of Gloucester, is affianced to LieutenantCommander Peter Dawnay, who is going to New Zealand in Mav.

"In the club games with few exceptions the play was very poor and failed to interest the public,” says the annual report of the Wairarapa Eugby Union. "Although the senior teams were reduced by one on the previous year, there are still too many senior sides competing, causing weak teams, and if our standard of play is to rise a further reduction of teams is 'necessary, If clubs will not look at the matter in the right light then the Rugby U'nion must irrespective of sentiment, take some action. 'We suggest that a grading of teams competing in the senior competition be carried out.”