WORLD FOOD PROBLEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27221, 26 October 1949, Page 7

WORLD FOOD PROBLEMS

Under-production And Maldistribution United Nations Programme NZPA—Copyright Rec. 9 p.m. NEW YORK, Oct. 24. The penalty of failure to overcome the twin evils of under-Droduction and the maldistribution of food would be to invite world depression and a drift towards the abyss of a third global war, said Mr N. E. Dodd, directorgeneral of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, in a speech at Kansas City to-night. Mr Dodd added that FAO had advanced a double-barrelled programme for combating these evils. As the first part of this programme, FAO intended to expand its services of technical assistance to underdeveloped regions. The second aspect called for international machinery (an international commodity clearing house) to move surplus products of agriculture to areas of scarcity throughout the world. American farmers would have to export or else their land machines and they themselves would be partly idle.

“We must find solutions for our distribution problems or else our best efforts in the increase of production will bring us only the anger of ruined producers and the fury of hungry people aroused by the sight of rotting plenty denied them,” Mr Dodd said. The hunger of millions, he added, was a continuing invitation to civil unrest and provocation to armed conflict. “ FAO believes world peace grows on good farms.” said Mr Dodd, who added that a new system of international exchange through five steps had been recommended by a group of experts:—

1. The maintenance of high levels of production and employment in the United States. 2. The reduction of trade restrictions throughout the world. 3. Increased efficiency of production. 4. A large continuing flow of capital investment to under-developed areas.

5. The restoration of convertible currencies and multilateral trade.