DOMINION FOOD MAY GO TO U.S.

Southland Times, Issue 24492, 21 July 1941, Page 6

DOMINION FOOD MAY GO TO U.S.

Release Of American Goods For Britain LONDON, July 18. The United States is giving intensive consideration to a proposal that New Zealand and Australian primary pro duce should be shipped to the western seaboard of America, enabling equal quantities of American produce to be shipped to Britain and thus avoiding the long haulage from the Antipodes. This was revealed by Mr Harry Hopkins, who is in charge of Lend or Lease production. He emphasized that the whole problem was one of shipping. He said it was clear that if there were sufficient ships New Zeal nd and Australia would ship produce direct to Britain, but it must not be forgotten that there was a similar shipping problem between New Zealand, Australia and the United States as there was between Britain and the United States. Before his departure for London he discussed the question with the Hon. F. Langstone, New Zealand Minister of Lands, and the Hon. J. G. Coates, a member of the New Zealand War Cabinet. The United States was determined to see that Britain got enough food. This would call for a major change in agricultural economy. Steps were being taken to ensure adequate supplementation of supplies from New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Every American ship moving anywhere in the world now regarded the war effort as its primary purpose, and in this there is closer co-operation between the British and American authorities.