EUROPE'S FOOD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23840, 16 December 1940, Page 8

EUROPE'S FOOD

DENIAL OF SHORTAGE CLAIMS BY GERMANY HIGH LIVING STANDARD By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (.Received December 15, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN. Dec. 14 The German Minister of Food and Agriculture, Walther JDarre, in a speech to the peasants, said Germany lost the last war mainly through hunger, but it now had the highest food standard in Europe. Milk supplies had increased 10 to 15 per cent, compared with last year, and butter 30 per cent. The ration of fats, about fHoz. a head weekly, was one of the highest in Europe. However, there must be fresh efforts in production. The war was already won for Germany militarily, hut Britain still fought on. There coulrl he no slackening until she was brought to her knees. Supplies Guaranteed The decision of the British Government not to agree to any lifting of the blockade for any country under German domination, which was announced by the late Marquess of Lothian on Wednesday, has been followed by the issue of a report by the Berlin Institute for Konjunkture Forschung. says a British official wireless message. It stated: "Not only Germany hut I the entire Continent possesses sufficient foodstuffs and agricultural means to guarantee feeding for all countries under German administration." Russian Restrictions The effect of these assurances on the anxieties expressed in certain unofficial American quarters will be awaited with interest. By implication the report constitutes a repudiation of the need for the Hoover plan, facilities for the operation of which have been refused by the British Government. Sales of certain foodstuffs in Russia have been restricted by half, says a Moscow message. This is reported to be not due to scarcity but as a precaution against the possibility of Russia being drawn into the war. BRITISH ECONOMIES DIVERSION OF SHIPPING SUPPLIES FOR MEN ABROAD REDUCED MEAT RATION (Received December 15, 9 p.m.'} British "Wireless LONDON, Dec. 14 The meat ration is to be reduced from Monday. Referring to the reduction, the Minister of Food, Lord Woolton, indicated that he was taking into consideration the decline in the quantity of home-killed meat supplied by farmers, which might make it necessary for the nation to have recourse to supplies at present in cold storage. An interesting fact is that the present expenditure on meat, with the ration at 2s 2d, averages Is 9d weekly. It is anticipated that there will be a greater reduction in the ration after Christmas or early in the new year, affecting hotels and restaurants but not communal feeding centres. The British public is going to live more simply in the future, said Lord Woolton, speaking at the inauguration of a ninepenny lunch, says a British official wireless message. Food was a munition of war, and in their deliberate efforts to starve Britain, the Germans were using the U-boat campaign in all its force, but, he said, "You are still not starved out." Speaking on the shipping problem, Lord Woolton said some ships were being taken off bringing food to Britain and used t-o take munitions and supplies to the men in the Middle Fast. These fighting men were now going to some extent without food in order that the people could have abundance in Britain. Therefore he told his colleagues in the Government that they would deliberately and willingly, as a population, have a little less. COMMUNIST ROLE PREPARING FOR HITLER WORKERS CHEER MINISTER (Received December 15, 6.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Dec. 14 After interruptions by a small group of men when he spoke in Edinburgh under the auspices of the Scottish Trade Union Congress, the Minister of Labour, Mr. Ernest Bevin, halted his address to comment on the part which, he declared, had been allotted to Communists, to prepare the way for Hitler's peace offer. "I know," Mr. Bevin said, "that orders have been issued, preparatory to Hitler making a peace offer, to Communists in this country to disturb meetings." Pointing to interrupters, the Minister added: "I know very well that you have been instructed to try to create the impression that the working class of this country is disunited. You have started it, but I do not think it will work." The declaration evoked a storm of applause, which was followed by shouts of "They are Nazis; throw them out." FUNDS FOR AEROPLANES NETHERLANDS EFFORT (Received December 15, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Deo. in Prince Bernhardt of the Netherlands recently handed to the Netherlands naval authorities, on behalf of the Prince Bernhardt Fund, two cheques for £2S,OCX) each for the purchase of two bombers for the Royal Netherlands Navy operating in British waters. Including large gilts from the Netherlands East Indies, the Prince Bernhardt Fund has now collected a total sum of £BIO,OOO, of which £7*15,000 has been handed to the Ministry of Aircraft Production.