MEAT FOR BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25798, 20 March 1945, Page 4

MEAT FOR BRITAIN

AMERICA CUTS SUPPLIES RATION REDUCTION PROBABLE WASHINGTON, Mar. 18. The Government has announced a 12 per cent, cut in meat supplies for civilians, beginning on April 1. The allotment for the April-June quarter will be 1151 b per head, compared with 1301 b for the present quarter. Lend-lease shipments of meat will be substantially reduced. Britain receiving 25,000,0001 b next quarter, or 12J per cent, of /the present shipments. It is considered that British reserves are large enough to sustain the country without great American assistance. A thunderbolt for the Food Ministry and the long-suffering British consumer is the only way to describe the drastic cut in meat shipments to Britain, announced by America, states the Press Association in a message from London. . The cut is almost certain to result in a reduction of the weekly meat ration from 14d to Is at an early date, because the months concerned are those in which homekilled beef is in small supply. A further cut to lid, and perhaps to 10d, may be necessary ultimately. . ... Recalling that Lord Wooitch once quoted a Government colleague as warning him that it only required the meat ration to fall below Is for Britain to have lost the war, the Press Association says our Food Ministers have always "regarded a meat ration of la as the limit in nutritional safety.

The Daily Mail, in an editorial, says: “A startling new food situation has developed without one word of warning, guidance, or reassurance from any other Ministers. What does it all mean? Why has it occurred so suddenly? The public is bewildered and apprehensive, but there is a silence in Whitehall. Our advice to Colonel Llewellyn is that he should issue a statement without delay to answer the many questions coming from the people who have kept this forward base of democracy going for six years.” Food supply problems are causing the Government much concern, says the Daily Mail’s political correspondent. Mr Churchill has been in close touch with President Roosevelt with the object of obtaining an agreed policy concerning satisfying the needs of liberated Europe which will not bear unduly hard upon either Britain or the United States. Mr C. R. Attlee will submit a report concerning his findings in France, Belgium, and Holland. The situation in Holland is really desperate, and when the Germans withdraw from the parts still occupied there will be need for speed and efficient action to feed the suffering people. Mr Churchill is believed to have told President Roosevelt frankly that he must now look after the people of Britain and cannot allow them to make further sacrifices in food for Europe uhless it is absolutely necessary.