Food Shortage After the War
Lord Woolton, speaking at Cardiff last Tuesday, warned his audience that for a number of years to come there will be a world shortage of food. He was speaking not primarily of the shipping situation and the means of transporting food, but of actual pro- duction, for in many parts of the world people have been diverted from food production to other occupations concerned with war needs. It will take some time to get the liberated peoples of Europe back to a normal agricultural life—many of the implements they will need will have to be manufactured—and in the meantime they will be drawing upon world supplies. Production outside Europe has been limited during the war years by the restricted means of exporting it, and the diversion of men to other activities. Lord Woolton said that his business was to look ahead and ensure that we get our fair share. Farmers in this country may be sure that their full exertions will still be required for some time after the war, and it will be part of the duty of food-planners to provide that subsequently our own agriculture will continue to yield a suitable proportion of our food supplies. But in this sphere, as in so many others, it is evident that we cannot expect an early removal of controls—possibly some sort of control may always be necessary. In the year following the end of the war with Germany rationing may be as severe as it is now, and after that only gradually become more generous. On ofie point raised by Lord Woolton there will be general agreement—the first care must be for the adequate feed- ing of young children, by which the energy of the coming generation will be so much affeated.
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