FAMINE IN INDIA

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22155, 29 September 1943, Page 3

FAMINE IN INDIA

DEMAND FOR ACTION MUST RELIEVE DISTRESS ALLEGED PROFITEERING united T*ro« A?«n.—FlPf Tc»l Omvrisdit) (Received Sept. 29, noon) LONDON, Sept. 28 “The famine in Bengal is almost entirely man-made,” declares Sir Alfred Watson, writing in the Daily Telegraph. He adds: “Bengal, the most fertile province in India, fed itself when other areas starved. The Indian Ministry ruling the province these days looked on complacently until a crisis developed. It even rejected offers of help. Meanwhile those having grain witheld it from the market for sale at fantastic prices.” The Daily Express says: “The British public will expect instant action, because this is our affair, touching our honour and good sense. While Indians drop dead from starvation we read in the newspapers that Canadian wheat may be converted into spaghetti for Italian consumption. What about the Benghalis?”

The South Wales Miners’ Executive has passed a resolution urging the immediate recall of Parliament to discuss the famine in India. The resolution demanded that the Government take immediate steps to relieve the distress and asked for an immediate enquiry into the allegations that profiteering caused the famine.

The executive voted £250 for Indian relief from the miners’ fund.