FACING UP TO WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24134, 28 November 1941, Page 2

FACING UP TO WAR

ENGLISH VILLAGE LIFE PEOPLE'S SIMPLIFIED DIET "JAM-MAKING FOR NATION" Aspects of village life in England under war conditions are contained in a letter from a New Zealand woman living in a village of Somerset to a relative in Auckland. She describes the precautions taken in the event of an invasion, the care of evacuees, and the effect of clothes and food rationing on the people. "People overseas seem to think we are having a dreadful time with shortage of food, but it is marvellous that in the third year of war we are having our sugar and fat ration increased," she writes. "We now realise that before the war most people ate far too much and we are infinitely better for a simplified diet. We certainly have never been hungry or anywhere near that state. Lots of are difficult to get, but we find we can do quite well without them. Women's Clothes from Men's "Quite a number of women's coats and skirts have been made out of their husband's evening suits," continues the writer in referring to the clothes rationing. "All the large shops are opening renovating departments, where clothes are turned and altered, and many tailors are buying up second-hand men's clothes, to make into women's,, suits. As these clothes are second-hand they can be bought without coupons. The stocking problem has been solved by the majority by simply going without, while others use the stocking stain sold by many of the shops. "just now my spare time is occupied in preserving fruit —without sugar—and I have just been making 'jam for the nation,' " the writer continues. "The jam-making this season has been entrusted to village jam-making centres, the Government providing the sugar. We make the jam in the village hall over coal stoves and oil burners." Preparation for Invasion Referring to village organisation, the writer states that it is astonishing how complete this is in each village, with its feed Cross, fire centre and voluntary lire fighters. Each member of the village takes his or her turn at firewatching. Complete arrangements are made for each village to be selfcontained in case of invasion, and as the writer lives in a coastal area her village has provision for taking and looking after up to 1000 people nightly, who might be evacuated on foot from the nearest city. Such people would be fed, cared for, and passed on to another prearranged centre further inland. There are also a large number of evacuees living in the village, according to the writer, who describes every cottage as swarming with extra people. Also, in spite of quiet nights, about 90 people drive out from Bristol to spend their nights in halls, church, schoolrooms and skittle alleys. For months thev slept on floors, but gradually wooden bunks are being provided.