OUR LONDON LETTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20787, 23 July 1937, Page 14

OUR LONDON LETTER

NATIONAL WAR-TIME DIET DUKE OF’ WINDSOR'S FUTURE i (From Our Own Correspondent I LONDON, July 8. The Defence Minister's speech this week on Britain's war preparedness contained a passing reference to the Government’s "steps to increase food production." Everyone is wondering what these steps are, especially in view of frequent alarmist statements that the country would be "practically starving" within a few weeks of a war breaking out. Some unofficial details of the food plans have now been ferret ted out. The most startling revelation is that scientists are devising means to make the Englishman eat less without going hungry. They are. in fact, working out a kind of standard national diet which will give all essentials of nourishment in small bulk. The object of this is to reduce to a minimum the food cargoes imported from Empire and foreign countries in time of war. Meanwhile, all unknown to the English farmer, his land is being surveyed by Government experts. They are making a schedule of all grassland which could, if necessary, be turned to food production. Thus, when an emergency comes, a flood of orders will be sent out commanding farmers to plough up pastures and hay-fields. A New Throne for the Duke?: Not for the first time rumours are circulating that the Duke of Windsor may be offered the throne of Austria—or. more correctly nomination by one of Austria’s monarchist groups. Though there is no chance of his accepting such an offer, there is nothing extraordinary in its being made. Both Greece and Bulgaria have in the past voted their thrones to foreign Princes. The legal heir to the Austrian throne, if it is ever restored is young Archduke Otto, son of the last short-lived Emperor. But Otto has many opponents, both in his own country and among other nations, and some Austrian monarchists think another candidate might stand a better chance. A year or two ago, before King Edward abdicated, it was suggested that “an English Prince” should be invited. The Duke of Windsor’s popularity in Austria and his known love of the country have now naturally brought his name forward as the ideal “candidate.” Wanted—loo “Little Men”: A novel scheme to help the small shopkeeper has been launched by a man who has spent most of his life running one of Britain's biggest shops. He is Mr A. K. Williams, a former director of Selfridge’s famous department store. Having seen how department stores are squeezing independent shopkeepers out of existence, he row has a plan for helping the “Little Man” to fight back.

I For a start, Mr Williams wants 100 small drapers to get together. But he ■ does not want to amalgamate them, i He wants to give them the advantages of large-scale buying without robbing j them of independence. Stock will be | brought jointly, and the central organ- ■ isation will also provide special shopI fittings and displays. The independent I shopkeeper will carry on as before, but Mr Williams hopes to give him the : cheapness and variety of goods which will enable him to compete with chain- | stores and department shops. Human Race in Decline?: i Nearly every week new and blacker pictures are painted of what Britain and the world will oe like if the birth j rate keeps on falling Apparently the only people who remain unmoved by i this prospect of calamity are the couples who (according to politicians and economists) ought to be having more ' children. The latest gloomy prophet is Mr Roy Harrod, an Oxford Economist, who declares that there is "a strong probability that the white race will disI appear completely.” The extinction of the entire human race is, he says, almost equally prob ible. Meanwhile a Population Investiga- ! tion Committee are examining the ' problem in Britain. They believe that i there are as yet very few people who decline to have children because of the I risks of war, slumps and social upI heavals. A more powerful reason is the desire of young middle-class couples to live a freer life than would be possible with family responsibilities. ; Many investigators advocate a big | bonus on parenthood, or wages based ’ on family allowances, as the best means ' of stimulating the birth rate. Luxurious Shipwreck: 1 Even shipwreck will become luxurious i if vessels generally adopt a new type of lifebelt perfected by an Italian inventor. It has two pockets containing I food and drink, and it radiates heat so that there Is less risk of the wearer 1 dying from exhaustion or exposure if | he is not quickly picked up. Another novel feature of the new lifebelt is that it is made of luminous I material which will catch and reflect I the rays of a ship’s searchlight or even I of the moon. It automatically brings I the wearer to the surface from any depth, and for this reason the lifeb”lt is being adopted by all Italian st’b- | marines. The New Precious Metal: Britain, greatest iron and steel nation in the world, is now so short of these metals that merchants are actually going from door to door asking housewives to sell unwanted knives, kitchen utensils and garden tools The reason for this .bor age is Ironical. It is due to the agreements which British steel-producing firms made w’itb their European rivals to limit production at a time, not so long ago. when there was a glut. The agreement remains In force in spite of the present shortage.