THE FOOD SHORTAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 16

THE FOOD SHORTAGE.

( A vigorous campaign against food hoarding has begun, especially in London. The local food- committees are receiving much confidential information, and it is understood that some hundreds of summonses will be issued before long. Lord Rhondda stated in the House of Lords that he hoped to have the country covered by local compulsory rationing schemes early in March, and that the Government would subsequently transform these into one national scheme. Tho Press Bureau reports that at the first meeting of the Consumers' Council, upon which trade unionists, co-operators, and women industrialists were represented, Mr Clynes, Parliamentary Secretary .to the Food Ministry, explained that they would have access 'to facts and figures upon which the .Food Ministry based its policy, and could advise upon the problems of rationing, transport, and administration. SThero is an increased supply of meat for the week-end, and a larger distribution is expected as from Monday. Many regiments engaged on home service have voluntarily adopted a meatless day a week, in order to increase the supplies availablo for civilians. INCREASED PRODUCTION WANTED. Mr Prothero, President of the Board of Agriculture, addressing farmers' representatives, said: '' We are in a critical position. We are approaching the rapids, and unless the farmers pulled with me and Lord Rhondda the country will be swept over." There was, he said, a very great shortage of concentrated foods, and only enough oats to feed the working horses on reduced rations after allowance had been made for milling stocks. With_ regard to cattle, we were in the same position as in 1870, when we could not purchase concentrated food, and this condition would last until this time next year. Mr Prothero appealed to the farmers to extend the area for cattle-feeding. He specially wanted them to grow potatoes.Carriage and pleasure horses must be pui to grass or killed. Hunters must be put to grass, and a limited ration will be allowed for thoroughbreds. Jle concluded: " There is not the faintest occasion for panic. Our live stock will be up to the mark." Lord Rhondda stated that tho wheat position for two or three months might be very serious, but there was no fear of starvation if they got a million acres of potatoes this- year. Farmers loudly dissented from Lord Rhondda's' expression of a hope that' the Government would take its hands off the prices after the war.