DR/NE OR STARVATION ?
[To THE EDITOR OF TIN " SPECTATOR."] Sia,---Mr. Durrell 3fillar, M.P., is quoted in the Times of April 28th as stating that 425,000 quarters of grain are being consumed in the manufacture of spirits, "not a galloU of which
can be consumed under the Immature Spirits (Restriction) Act. 1915, for three years." If this fact is correct, this amouut of grain could be saved for use as feed by the repeal of the Restric- tion Act, and not a teaspoonful less whisky need be drunk in England. In view of the shortage which is spoken of now as certain, not to do this seems to be an act of criminal madness. It is difficult to believe that it would not be possible to hold up the 367,220 tons of barley and 41,700 tons of sugar until, say. September. Then, if it has not already been eaten by hungry men, women, and children, it would be possible to start brewing with whatever materials were available. The Govern- ment could undertake to release men from the Army to help in this need, apparently felt to be so vital by the Trade Union leaders. If we starve and the whole of our sacrifices in this war are rendered useless, and this amount of food has been used for the manufacture of drink, then a crime will have been committed hardly to be equalled in the whole history of humanity.—I am,
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