Timely Topics

Northern Advocate, 18 April 1938, Page 4

Timely Topics

Following upon comments made by Mr Parker, in the British House of Commons, a letter sent to “The Times” by Mr Ajthur Salter, the eminent economist.

THE STORAGE Of' FOOD.

is interesting. Ho says: The discussion, in the House cf Commons and in your columns, and elsewhere, showed (inclusively that in the view of all those most qualified to judge the need for increasing stocks (which involve storage) is imperative, and the reasons for taking only slow and limited measures 'are simply untenable. The gravity cf the present position has been emphasised by literally every authority who has expressed himself. To the suggestion that naval strength can provide an alternative tc food storage are opposed all those who most ardently support a strong Navy, including Sir Roger Keyes and. the president of the Navy League. To | the suggestion that 'an increase -;in I home production can be an altema- ! live are opposed those experts who i put the possibilities of such an in- ■ crease at the highest, such as Mr C. \ Turner, Mr A. P. McD)ougall, aliid > Professor Stapledon, Sir Thomas’ [objective that liquidation of food ? storage, when no longer nlecessary, • would be expensive, might as well [have been made to dockyards, -as Mr | Duncan Sandys pointed out in the ■ debate. The criticisms of Sir Thomas I fand his supporters as to expensive- | ness and disloc'ation were based on | a scheme that is utterly unlike any 'that has been advocated by anyone [who has taken a leading part in adi vacating food storage. The reason- | able proposal to secure and maintain j stocks of different' foods equivalent in total food value to a [year’s wheat .consumption would cost [about £5,000,000 a year (including [interest on capital expenditure), or [ less than 2 per cent, of our defence | expenditure, and need involve no dislocation.