BRITAIN'S FOOD NEEDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 15 April 1944, Page 5

BRITAIN'S FOOD NEEDS

ADDRESS BY MR BANKES AMERY Wellington, April 13. The serious effect of declining production in countries exporting food to Britain was emphasised by Mr W. Bankes Amery in a luncheon address at Wellington to-day. Britain, he said, could possibly stand a reduction in any one country, but when supplies from 11 were falling as rapidly as at present the outlook was serious, especially as nutritional experts were agreed that the health, physique, and morale of the people co_.:d not be maintained if sifiplies of meat or dairy produce were reduced. He felt sure that once the producers and consumers of New Zealand realised the position every effort would be made to ensure an all-round improvement. Mr Amery said that during his tour of New Zealand he had got the impression that some people imagined that Britain was asking for more and more foodstuffs. This was far from being the case. Brilain would be satisfied if what she received approximated what she r, reived from this country at the outbreak of war. The position was that F ain had a greater population to feed, after making allowance for the armed f°rc s, than she had before the war. but the load supply was depleted by the cutting off of supplies from Denmark and Hr”and, as well as a heavy rr ’uc'ion in imports '■•om New Zealand and Australia. When shipping had been required to take troops around the Cape of Good Hope there had been more food than ships to take it; but I he position was now reversed and there was definitely more shipping space than th'—* was food to fill it. “The future food supplies for the j 47.000.000 people, plus soldiers, in the j United Kingdom,” he said, “is there- j fore one of increasing anxiety.”—P.A.