To Assist Britain To Maintain Vital Foodstuff Supplies

Northern Advocate, 26 April 1944, Page 3

To Assist Britain To Maintain Vital Foodstuff Supplies

Appealing for greater production to assist the gallant people of Britain who were threatened with reduction of their present meagre rations, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) at a conversazione in the Whangarei Town Hall on Monday night, urged primary producers to disregard the disability under which they were suffering and to address themselves to that task.

The world was awaiting the opening of u second front in Europe, and New Zealand had its part in ensuring that that great military adventure would be successful, said Mr Holland. After the miracle of Dunkirk, when thousands of British servicemen had been rescued from the advancing German forces, Britain had begun preparation of mechanics for what Mr Churchill had said would be the greatest striking force in military history. Food Crisis In Britain Too much secrecy about New Zealand’s war effort had been maintained. Mr Holland contended. Only now were the people becoming aware of the crisis which faced the people of Britain after the hardships that they had endured with such unbeliev • able courage and fortitude. Britain was facing a shortage of foodstuffs to maintain her population of between -15,000,000 and 46.000,000, who were allowed 2oz of butter, 3oz of c-heeso. 4cz of margarine and lib of meat per person per week, and if that shortage were not made up those meagre rations would be further reduced. Transcending all other things was relieving that food crisis, he continued. Mr Churchill had sent Mr W. Bankes Amery, one of his officers, to the Dominion to see what could be done and New Zealand had a preeminent duty in answering the call to those heroic neople.

Britain’s Suffering

In the first 22 days of the Gofman blitz 10,COO major fires had occurred, and in the first three years oi' the war 2,700,000 homes in England and Wales alone had been destroyed. The air forces and anti-aircraft guns had shot down 17,800 German planes and 16,000 men of the mercantile marine had died in doing (heir duty to Britain, while SCC.GGC men and 3.000.000 tons of stores had been sent to North Africa for that successful campaign which had routed the enemy.

"These gallant people are asking for food,” .‘.aid Mr. Holland. “We know you have problems of production, but something mere important is the .survival of the British people. The reduction of buttcivfat production in the Dominion is so serious that if it is hot made up it is equal to 4.000,000 being reduced in their ration by 20 per cent.”

Drop in Primary Exports

He urged primary producers to disregard as much as they could the disabilities under which they were labouring and to address themselves to the task of helping the people of Great Britain. .Britons had helped themselves in the field of agriculture by raising their self-sufficiency from 4C per cent, to 70 per cent., while they had brought in G.OCO.OCO extra acres of land. To March of this year Now Zealnd had sent to Britain only 65,000 quarters of beef compared with 165.G0G in 1943; only 242,000 carcases of wether mutton as against 28C.CCC; only 126,000 carcases of ewe mutten as against 195.C00; only 6.300.000 carcases of lamb as against 7,100.000, and 212.000 freight carcases (GOlbs.) of boneless beef against 458,000. This was not the time to regard local prejudices, but to look at the scene 12,000 miles away, contended Mr. Holland, who said lie pledged the National Party to fight to ensure the farmer and producer received justice. They should not delay, however, in i lie great task and privilege of maintaining those 2ozs. of butter. 3ozs. of cheese, and lib. of meat per week per person for the people of Britain now standing on the threshold of n second front.