The statements by members of the Government about the Food
situation have been so various that we confess we have been unable to follow them, We are now embarked upon a new Food Economy campaign. Nothing is more necessary, and yet we cannot help reflecting that when Mr. Kennedy Tones, who played his part extremely well as champion of food economy, retired from his office, the public were encouraged to believe that an adequate reduction in food consumption had been effected, and that nothing remained to be done. We sympathize with the bewilderment of newspaper readers. One day they learn that the construction of new ships will more than atone for our losses in merchantmen, and another day they learn on equal authority from some member of the Government that nothing can save us from an exhaustion of supplies but a very drastic reductfon in consumption. No doubt an explanation of these patent contradictions is to be found in the fact that Ministers have to perform the double task of en- couraging and warning. We fear, however, that the average man is
to take an official statement at its face value. Thus one constantly meets people who say either that " everything is all right" or that " everything is lost," but far too seldom the man who says that everything can be saved if the people recognize that the solution of all the difficulties is in their own hands.
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