FEEDING THE FIGHTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15848, 19 February 1915, Page 4

FEEDING THE FIGHTERS.

ire intimation by the Imperial Government that all the beef and mutton exported from New Zealand will be required for the army and navy is not surprising. The Australian authorities have already had a similar intimation, and although characteristically divided as to whether the Federal or the State Governments control the situation are cheerfully united on the main principle that the fighting men must be fed. It was not possible for several million men to be sent to the field from a people whose simplest foods are bread and meat without creating a great demand upon the meat supply of the world. Not only does the well-fed soldier or sailor consume more than the average civilian-because most substitutes are unobtainable under war conditions—but there is an unavoidable and enormous waste in the field. The Imperial advantage in being able to obtain supplies from Australia and New Zealand lies in the ease and directness with which the best meats can thus be secured. The price paid in such business-like contract is the market price, and the only injury that can be inflicted is the dislocation of trades to special markets which may have been built up with difficulty. Under the circumstances, markets must be cheerfully sacrificed in order that the men who fight our battles may be fully and properly fed ; but we may console ourselves with the fact that while the ar lasts there will be no rush of competing meat supplies to any market in the world. There appears to be some difficulty awaiting meat shipments from the Dominion, although our butter has so far secured transport without great delay. This may not, be wholly an evil, for it will help to conserve our herds and to prevent them being depleted before that is necessary to satisfy the Imperial (lovornment. Incidentally, it is quite reassuring to hear that had Sir Joseph Ward been in office the necessary action to avoid shortages would have been taken. This shows that our politicians are carrying on business as usual, and find little that is alarming in the international outlook. It is quite like a lullaby to hear once more from Sir Joseph how easily and satisfactorily he himself could have done something.