Food Rationing
The difficulties which some consumers have had in buying certain kinds of food are not due to any scarcity of stocks, but to the dislocation caused by movements of population and the change-over from peace to war time organisation. This is readily understandable. Mr. W. S. Morrison, the Minister of Food, has stated that there is no cause for anxiety in regard to supplies—they are plentiful. Rationing will not be introduced for three or four weeks, when the national register will be complete and the evacuated popula- lion will have settled down in new areas. The necessity of rationing does not arise from any scarcity, but from the fact that the Government is now the controller of supplies from the source, and has to arrange distribution so that all may get their proper share. It is reassuring to know that ration- ing is expected to provide as much food as the nation normally consumes, except perhaps in the case of bacon and butter, the supply of which will temporarily be diminished. There is no reason why prices at present should go up. If they do the rise will be due to profiteering, and should be instantly checked. The Government has ample powers for this purpose and must be quick to use them. Consumers can co-operate by avoiding waste, for although there is no shortage, anything which relieves the strain on oversea transport of food sets ships free for other purposes.
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