22 DECEMBER 1917, Page 11

THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURER AND THE FOOD RATIONS.

[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR:1 • Sin,—Your correspondent Mr. Chealos thinks the agriculture' labourer will find a difficulty in keeping within the allowed breast ration. But how about the meat ration? I do not think that either Mr. Cheeks or the Food Controller knows how our farm men and lads live in those parts. The nmjority of them are hired by the year with board and lodging. If the fanner does not board them in his own house, Ile pays his hind his. to 15s. in week to "meat" (feed) the men. They have meat (beef) three times a day, and plenty of it. The hinds' wives tell me that you cannot well reckon on lees than half-a-stone of meat [4 lb.] per