THE FOOD PROBLEM

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 4 February 1918, Page 5

THE FOOD PROBLEM

ACUTE POSITION IN BRITAIN (A«s. & N.Z. Cable Assn. Renter.; (Received Last Night. ''-5 o'clock.) LONDON, February 2. Mr Prothero, Minister of Agricul turo, addressing the farmers' representatives, said; "We are in a criotic a I position, and aie ,ipproacung rapids."- Ho stated that unless the farmers pu led with him and Lord "Uhondda, tiro Food Controller, the country would be nwept over, lhcie was a very great shortage of concentrated. foods, and only enough oat to feed the working horses on reduced rations after allowance was made for the milling stocks. With regard to cattle, we were m the same position as in 1870, when we could not purchase, concentrated food. Inis co ditiorn would last until this time next year. Mr Prothero appealed to the farmers to extend the arable area tor cattle-feeding. He. specially wanted them to grow potatoes. Carriage and pleasure horses must be put out to grass, or killed, and hunters pi out. to grass. A limited ration wouli be allowed for thoroughbreds. Mr Prothero concluded: "There is not the faintest occasion for panic. The live stock will be up to the ma; k." _ ~ Lord I?hondda stated that the wheat position in • two or three months may be very serious. There would be no fear of starvation it they could get a million acres of po la-toes this year. t The farmers loudly dissented at Lord Rhondda. s hope that tile bovenjinont would takes its hands off prices after the war.