POST-WAR RELIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 8

POST-WAR RELIEF

TASK OF SCIENCE SOUND FOOD POLICY INTELLIGENT PRODUCTION STANDARD FOR HEALTH By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright - LONDON, Sept. 20 Speaking at the conference of international scientists, convened by the British Association, during the session to discuss "Science and PostWar Relief," Mr. Philip Noel Baker, Labour M.P., suggested that a sound food policy, giving "a minimum standard for maximum health." should* be the basis for any long-term scheme for post-war relief. In the Atlantic Charter endorsed by all the Allies, 16 Governments pledged themselves to establish a peace which would afford an assurance that all men in all lands should live out their lives in freedom from want. Mr. Baker said: "How are governments going to do it? [t will be a difficult job. What easier, what sounder start could governments make than by an international agreement to strive by every means to ensure an international food standard for every citizen living in their respective lands." High Minimum Demand If they could fix a high minimum demand for every kind of foodstuff , he said, they would go very far toward stopping slumps, for two-thirds of all the world's population still lived and laboured on the land and the stability of the markets for their products was by far the most important single factor in the controlling of fluctuations of world trade. The United States needed to use at home all their agricultural products except cotton, tobacco and a little wheat. Great Britain would have to produce 50 to 70 per cent more food and vegetables and nearly 100 per cent more butter and milk, and. in consequence, would have to give up growing wheat, and sugar beet. France would have to reduce her wheat production from 1.00 to 70 per cent of her requirements. Switzerland would have to give up growing wheat at a cost wluch was three times the world market price. International Standard Diet In some countries, such as. for example. Hungary, whose system of agricultural production and, indeed, of land tenure, would have to be changed, these tilings could easily be done if a start were made from a basis of an international standard diet and world production adequately and intelligently planned. A far more difficult problem was that of consumption and purchasing power in the hands of the individual man. Mr. Baker said he hoped and believed that after the war the International Labour Office would he compelled to work toward minimising the possibility of war. NEW MACHINE-GUN MANUFACTURE TO START REMARKABLE FEATURES \ (Herd. 1.10 a.m.) MELBOURNE Sept. 30 Arrangements have been made for the manufacture of the first instalment cf between 1000 and 1500 Owen guns, said the Minister of Munitions, Senator Mcßride, to-day. The Owen gun. invented by an Australian, Mr. Evelyn Owen, has only three movable parts compared with 20 in the Thompson sub-machine gun. The rate of fire is so rapid that the ear cannot distinguish between the explosions, while the magazine and barrel can he changed in a split second. Mr. Mcßride said the Owen gun, which might prove to be Australia's biggest contribution to war inventions, possessed many features sought for years by leading inventors in Britain, the United States and Germany. It might even revolutionise many aspects of home defence.