Food Control In answer to a question in the House
of Commons on Tuesday, Mr. Oliver Stanley announced that plans are in preparation for controlling the supply and distribution of food in the event of an " emergency," that is, a war. One feature of them will be the creation, in fifteen division of Great Britain, of a " shadow " organisation which will act as a Food Control Committee in the area of each local authority. The Divisional Food Officers have already been appointed. It is encouraging that such steps have been taken, but in answer to another question, whether the " shadow " organisa- tion will have powers of purchase and distribution, Mr. Stanley merely replied that, in a crisis, it would be " in readiness " to perform all the duties of the Food Controller during the war. But merely being " in readiness " to control supplies will not create them ; the organisation might immediately be assigned the task of storing reserves of food to be used in an emergency. This precaution has been urged upon the Government by many competent authorities, and it is one of the cheapest and most effective that can be taken to avert a food crisis in time of war. So far the Govern- ment has resolutely refused to take such advice ; yet to accept it would at least ensure that, for a period at least the " shadow " organisation would be able to offer some- thing more substantial than " shadow " supplies. * * * *
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