BRITISH FOOD RESERVE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19371, 8 July 1937, Page 11

BRITISH FOOD RESERVE

DOMINION COULD HELP AID IN emergency The part New Zealand could play in assisting Great Britain to build up a rood reserve for use in time of war was discussed by Mr. L. C. Walkei on liis return to Christchurch alter a year's absence in England and on the Continent. He claimed that the provision of such a reserve was' one oi die greatest insurances against war. “While I was in England I spent a good deal of time in contact with the Food Defence Department set up under the Board of Trade to investigate the forming of a food reserve to ensure safety in time ot war,” said Mr. Walker. "The problem is difficult, lor if Britain purchased a Iraction ot what would be needed she could upset the world s markets and throw the economic system out of gear. At the same time, public opinion in England on this question ot food reserve is crowded out just now by a number of other problems. If War Came “In another war, if such an unhappy event came about, the diet of British people would be altered drastically. Her present areas pioducing meat would have to be turned over quickly to potatoes and otiiei foodstuffs of high calorific content This lias important repercussions on New Zealand. We should work out our plans to store meat to make up for the displacement in British stocks. We have dairy products now going to waste which would form a vital balancing factor witlr such foods as potatoes. "Germany, for example, uses the whole of her skim milk for human food and Denmark half of hers. New Zealand could turn out such a volume of dried milks that a reserve could be built up in Britain. With tins goes the production of dried grain milk, which makes the subject of interest to Canterbury as a wheat producer. Forefront of Defence "The gravity of England's present position will be realised by anyone who reads ‘Europe in Arms,’ by Captain Liddell Hart, a leading strategist,” Mr. Walker continued. “He places a food reserve in the forefront of British defence. The whole question should be studied very, carefully by competent people in New Zealand. “We should get to New Zealand a man like Sir John Orr and set up an organisation, with doctors and women • taking a large part in the work, to study the British food problem. That organisation would be able to advise

us how to render service to Great Britain on this point. If we can do anything to build up a food reserve we arc achieving a great deal toward world peace, for if the Powers know Britain's food supply is secure they will not attempt war.”