FOOD SHORTAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26199, 9 July 1946, Page 4

FOOD SHORTAGES

RATIONING IN AMERICA HOUSEWIVES’ DIFFICULTIES The impression held by many New Zealanders that the United States was a lend of plenty ana was little affected by the world-wide food shortage was corrected by the Rev. L. Sale-Harrison, who has arrived in Dunedin to give a series of lectures at the North-East Valley Baptist Church. Accompanied by his wife, Dr Sale-Harrison left America only a short time ago, and since arriving in New Zealand they have received several letters from friends in the States. Their information regarding the food situation in the United States is therefore up to date.

“We quite understand the attitude taken over the butter that was being shipped to the Stales,” Dr Sale-Harri-son said to a Daily Times reporter yesterday. “ We. too, feel that the British people should get everything they can. and that they deserve the best. And that would be the general feeling in the United States. We can speak for our part of the country when we say that all through the war the American people have been very sympathetic towards Britain, and have sent everything they could to help them. That desire to help is still there, but it should be remembered that the United States is not free from its food problems.”

“We have been astonished at the food we have seen here,” said Mrs Sale-Harrison. “The sight of people in offices and shops having morning and afternoon tea is amazing. In America we could not spare the rations and we could not spare the time. As for supper as you New Zealanders have it, well, it is just unheard of. If we do entertain like that, we would only have one plate of cookies, whereas you people have as much as would last us for a week. You seem to have plenty of food here, far more than we can obtain in the States.”

Mrs-Sale-Harrison outlined some of the difficulties the Seattle housewife has faced during the war and which she still has to overcome. Butter, she said, was extremely difficult to obtain. She could not remember the present weekly allowance, but she could remember that a family of six had to be content with a quarter of a pound a week, that was, if it could be obtained. It was very strictly rationed, and it was necessary to stand in a queue for hours to buy it. Milk, too, was in very short supply and it was equally difficult to obtain bread. The Americans were big breadeaters, she said, and they liked their hot “ biscuits,” too, but the shortage of flour did not allow them to obtain the amount they desired. Meat was another item of food that had been in very short supply. Mrs Sale-Harrison said, and at times during the war Seattle had been without it entirely. Bacon was a rare delicacy, too. and anyone who obtained a mouthful of it at rare intervals was considered very fortunate. Prices were high, and compared very unfavourably with those ruling in New Zealand. A roast of beef which would be priced at 3s 6d in Dunedin would cost the equivalent of 10s 6d in Seattle. Bacon, when obtainable, was approximately 5s a pound. Sugar had been strictly rationed, and this was trying for Americans, who were fond of their candies and chocolate. There was practically no sugar available for preserving, and fruits of all kinds, which were plentiful in her part of the States, were wasted because of the lack of sugar for preserving. “ There certainly is a great shortage of butter and other foods in our part of the country,” Dr Sale-Harrison said. “In one of the best hotels in Seattle is a notice stating, ‘Do not ask for butter.’ and it is quite impossible !o get it. .In another big hotel in San Francisco butter is served with one meal only, and then it is a thin little pat barely enough for one slice of bread. These shortages do not apply to all parts of the States,4’ he added. “ Distribution is bad and some parts of the country suffer more than others.” “ Don’t thipk we are complaining,” Mrs Sale-Harrison said. “We are only too glad to do everything possible to assist the world food shortage. We are very sympathetic towards Britain, and we are doing everything for her we can. In our town, for example, it was compulsory to save fat for Britain. We had to send it into a depot and inspectors called at the houses to see that the housewives were complying with the regulations. We have told you all this merely to let you know that -we in America have our food problems, too. and that rationing is very strict and supplies are difficult to obtain."