Food Rationing Begins In United Kingdom

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1940, Page 6

Food Rationing Begins In United Kingdom

BRITISH people yesterday had the significance of the “war which has hardly yet begun,” brought closer to their doors, with the introduction of rationing of butter, ham and sugar. Meat is also to be rationed, although the amount is yet to be fixed. During the war of 1914-18 Great Britain, requiring to import a large proportion of her food supplies from overseas, was compelled to introduce a similar, but more far-reaching system, which placed her people on short commons in respect of certain commodities so that there should be no stinting of the armed forces in the field. The need for a rationing system is not by any means as urgent at the present time as it was at the period of the last war when the attacks by German submarines upon food ships were being conducted very destructively. There was actually then some danger that Germany might, by the cutting-off of food supplies, succeed in starving Great Britain into submission. Of such a calamity there is not now any apprehension, the German submarine campaign and even the menace of the “secret weapon,” the magnetic mine, having so far failed entirely in their objectives. But a rationing of such goods as butter, bacon and sugar is a commonsense precautionary measure, designed alike to safeguard the nation against the risk of a shortage of supplies later on and to conserve shipping space and sterling funds. Even neutral Switzerland is taking similar steps. “The Times” describes it as expressive of a desire to ensure the wisest possible outlay of all means to victory. Householders in a producing country like New Zealand may count themselves fortunate that, even when their nation is engaged in war against a formidable and unscrupulous opponent, their ability to provide themselves with essential foodstuffs is limited only by the extent of their economic resources. However, the sacrifice by the British public, which _is demanded by rationing will represent an important contribution to the war effort, and, as the Minister responsible stated in his week-end speech, all can rest assured that it will be “Share and share alike.”