BRITAIN’S PLIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26540, 15 August 1947, Page 4

BRITAIN’S PLIGHT

ALLOUT NATIONAL DRIVE PROPOSED NEXT WEEK’S CONFERENCE Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, Aug. 14. Government officials were to-day busy summoning leaders of every, section of the community to attend the Prime Minister's conference at Parliament Buildings next Wednesday and Thursday to formulate a national aid to Britain policy. The campaign Mr Fraser intends to launch will be more than a sentimental appeal to New Zealanders to, increase their aid to their kinsfolk in the United Kingdom. The conference will be told not just of Britain’s food shortage, but of her economic crisis. The community will be warned of the dangers to New Zealand's economy inherent in Britain’s present plight. It is expected that the conference will be asked to consider practical means to achieve greater production of essentials within New Zealand. Means of earning and saving dollars will be under consideration, and proposals to ensure the despatch of more food, particularly meat, to Britain v\»ill be examined. The New Zealand effort is likely to be parallel to, although not necessarily linked with, that of Australia. The institution of meatless days has been suggested, and will be under discussion, but it is authoritatively estimated that a saving in meat would not be so effective by this method as it would be if meat coupon values were reduced. The Government will call for a nonpolitical national drive to carry out the decisions of the conference.