BRITONS' NEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25299, 5 September 1945, Page 7

BRITONS' NEEDS

NECESSITIES SCARCE , i 1 WEARY OF DOING WITHOUT i (Hen!. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON*, Sept. 3 "The public are weary of doing : without the things they need. They do not want to hear about calories and vitamins; they want chops," said Mr C. 'W. Hewson in his presidential address to the National Meat Traders' Federation. He said means must be found of increasing the meat ration at the earliest possible time and getting back to normal. Mr Hewson added that the ration of Is 2d a week did not meet Britons' needs. The meat traders had loyally supported the Food Ministry, but the timo had come when they must say the j people did not like to he supplied with j pork in summer and lamb in winter. A I system was needed under which butchers could tell the Ministry what their requirements were, instead of the reverse. Meagre Clothing Ration 'A reminder of the continuation of wartime restrictions is the issue of new | clothing coupons, says the special correspondent of the Press Association. Each person has 24, and they must last until next April. Just how far they will go is indicated by their values. For men a non-austerity suit requires 26 coupons, an austerity suit 20, a pair of trousers eight, a suit of pyjamas eight and a shirt with collars and a tie eight. For women a winter coat requires eight coupons, a woollen dress 11, shoes seven and fully fashioned stockings three. For many people it will be a case of "make do and mend." The cigarette shortage in Britain has become more intense and "no cigarettes" notices are becoming familiar. One reason advanced is the heavy demands for duty free cigarettes for the forces overseas. There are no limits beyond those imposed by individual firms on the numbers that may be sent to British or Allied forces overseas at os (3d for 200. Cigarettes as~Currency It is suggested that these cigarettes are being used ns currency in foreign countries, where they are traded for all sorts of articles. Many, of these find their way back to London, and the Daily Express reports that in a dirty, blitzed cul-de-sac off Cutler Lane, in Houndsditch, in the East of London, jewellery, cameras, rings, wntches and propelling pencils, some looted and some bought for cigarettes, are selling at fantastic prices. For years this cul-de-sac has been the market place of legitimate traders for articles which would not fetch shop prices. It is stated that cameras are now fetching £IOO, rings £oo and watches £ls. The shortage of beer also continues throughout the country. A variety of reasons is given, including the shortage of hops, sugar, labour and coal, and the fact that more young girls are drinking beer today. The hop-picking season has now started and pickers are receiving the "highest ever" pay. Tt is two bushels a shilling. In previous years it has reached as low a level as eight bushels a shilling. People's Savings

The subject of high wages raises the question of how much the working people are saving of their large wartime earnings. A recent Gallup poll indicates that four out of ten families live right up to their means and do not consider they possess enough savings to tide them over financially if they or their husbands lose their'jobs. Another three in every ten say they could not hold out for more than six months if work failed to turn up. Only three in ten consider that they could exist on their savings for over six months in the event of unemployment. AMERICA CRITICISED HARDSHIPS FOR BRITAIN LEND-LEASE SITUATION LONDON, Sept. 3 Strong criticism on America's action in ending lend-lease was voiced by a Labour member of the House of Commons, Mr Stanley Evans, in a speech at Wednesbury. "The British public never expected that, the end of the war would bring ease amjj plenty overnight," he said, "hut they did expect that tho United States, which, as the result of two world wars, lias become the richest nation in the world, would have some consideration for us, who held the fort for two years while America waxed fat on the proceeds of cash-and-carry." Britons in the coming winter, for all the United Slates cared, would tighten their belts, put on their overCoals, if tliey had any, listen to the wireless, if it' worked, and sit in front of the kitchen lire, if there were any coal. The alternative was to submit to political blackmail. "America wants to sell to everyone, buy from no one, control the world's airways, dominate the world's shipping and be the world's banker," said Mr Evans. "If. as America desired, Britain borrowed money from her to pay off Australia, New Zealand, Egypt and Africa, so they in turn would he able to buy from the United States, Britain would not only lose a 500.000,000 market, but also accumulate a huge debt," * The British Ambassador, Lord Halifax, will leave for the United States by air oil Sunday to join Lord Keynes for discussions on the cessation of lendlease. Lord Keynes has arrived in Ottawa. He will have financial discussions with the Canadian Government before going on to Washington.