FOOD SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23767, 21 September 1940, Page 12

FOOD SUPPLIES

POSITION I3SP CAPITAL 1 MARKETS FULLY STOCKED NAZI CLAIMS REFUTED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright British Wireless LONDON, Sept. 10 The complete failure of enemy raids to impair London's food supplies claimed by the Minister of Food, Lord Woolton, is well borne out in reports made last night by two American correspondents. Mr. John-McVanc, broadcasting from London on the national broadcasting system, said: "One ol the National Broadcasting Corporation observers came through Covent Garden and found it crammed with every kind ot fruit and vegetable you can imagine. There were boxes of Tasmanian apples, South African grapefruit, and lettuce by tho truckload, and also many other perishable commodities which must havo been brought in during the night. "This does not mean that this big town lias not already been badly battered in the past 24 hours. It is merely a reminder that London is a vast area which cannot be knocked out by a few bombers in a few days, or even weeks, of constant raiding." Mr. H. R. Knickerbocker, in a message to New York, wrote: "This sort of destruction certainly is not going to win the war, and to-day, after touring the city's principal markets, I can testify that the German radio's claim that the Luftwaffe is gradually starving London is simply imbecile.

"If there is any shortage at Covent Garden, London's biggest and most famous market, it is not visible to tho naked eye. It takes just as long now to thread one's way through its lanes and alleys piled mountain-high with every variety of food as ever it did in peacetime."

NEED FOR WORK NEW PRECAUTIONS "SPOTTERS" ON FACTORIES MAINTENANCE OF PRODUCTION (Received September 20, 6.30 p.m.) I LONDON, Sept. 10 The Home Secretary, Sir John Anderson, has issued 2,000,000 leaflets giving employers and workers guidance for working during air raids. The Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, in a preface, says: "The experience of the last few weeks has taught us that one of the greatest problems is to maintain production in spite of air raids. This plan has been evolved by employers and employed, so let us all work it together until victory comes." The plan provides for the posting of spotters and for improved protection for workers, permitting 4 a continuation of work until danger is imminent. "Workers' pension, compensation and insurance rights are specifically preserved. Six thousand persons have already received personal injury allowances.

The Minister of Aircraft Production, Lord Beaverbrook, in a message to the Ministry's repair organisation, paid- a tribute to the continuation of work in spite of raids. "In the week to September 14 your output of bombers and fighters was in excess of all types lost or destroyed in battle or accident; One organisation, in spite of the fact that vast and grievous bombing resulted in manv casualties, lost onlv two davs. . %. Another lost only 15 minutes during the week."

BOMBED AREAS VISIT BY KING AND QUEEN CROWD'S CHEERING WELCOME British "Wireless LONDON, Sept. >l9 The King and Queen once again spent the morning visiting areas, this time in south-west and west London, which had suffered from the bombs of Nazi night raiders, and once again they were greeted by smiling faces and undaunted enthusiasm. The police made no attempt to keep the people away, and the King and Queon walked amid the scenes of devastation with cheering men, women and children brushing alongside them. A time bomb exploded 80 yards from an automobile in which the Duke of Kent was touring the bombed areas. A shower of rubble rained on the car. TRANSPORT PROBLEMS DISCUSSION IN COMMONS (Received September 20, 5.5 p.m.) British "Wireless LONDON, Sept. 19 Following is the report of to-day's proceedings in the secret session of the House of Commons, issued under tho authority of the Speaker:—

"The House went into secret session and the debate on the aerial bombardment of the country was continued. Members raised points in connection with transport and other subjects, and the" Minister of Transport, Sir John Reith, made a statement."

LABOUR TRAINING

LOCATION IN LONDON DEPARTMENT BROUGHT BACK British Wireless LONDON, Sept. 19 The special department of the Ministry of Labour responsible for developing Government training centres and for providing semi-skilled munition workers and supervising an increase in private training schemes, which had been evacuated to the country, has been brought back to London. This decision, said the Minister of Labour, Mr. Ernest Bevin, emphasised not only the Ministry's view of the increased importance of training, but also its resolve to carry 011 in London, •