WASTE OF HUMAN FOOD.
(To me Emma or ran " fireceiron."1
Sts,—Every patriotic and sensible person will have read the Prime Minister's speech in the columns of the Times on Saturday last with the greatest pleasure and agreement, and will only desire that the Government should carry out his true and wise words wills thorough consistency; but unfortunately in the same issue of the Times there also appears a notice that " Winter racing is to be allowed," which is entirely inconsistent with the following sentences in Mr. Lloyd George's speech in which be " Every ton of food which you produce or save in this country is an increased weight hurled against the Prussian barrier. The nation can help by giving up things which are not essential to victory "; and public opinion will endorse these words.
All over the country in agricultural districts dairy cows are being reduced in number, and those which remain are giving a lees quantity of milk for want of necessary food, whilst pigs and poultry are becoming less plentiful on account of the Orders for- bidding the use of " dredge corn " for feeding animals and poultry. Meanwhile tons of the very best quality of oats which will be so much required for human food next year, as well as hay which will be very scarce next winter owing to the ploughing up of grass- land, are being consumed by useless selling-platers at Newmarket and elsewhere, or animals being trained to gallop over hurdles in preparation for the winter racing, as well as by so-called hunters in order that certain privileged persons, very few of whom have done a bit of work for their country, may have the opportunity of gambling or some unnecessary sport in war time. Every ton of oats so wasted now would be worth untold value for human food next winter, as very little extra wheat will be now sown for next harvest, whilst hay must he scarce in con- sequence of the ploughing up of so much grass-land. And it is difficult for the agricultural labourer to believe that it is a crime to use dredge corn for hie pig and poultry, whilst the best quality of oats and hay is being squandered on useless animals.
Bnt it is not only human food that is now being wasted, but also man-power and money. The large staff of stablemen could be well utilized either in the Home Forces of the Army if not fit for the front, or in taking the places of better men and releasing them for more useful military work. At the present time there are plenty of men fit for foreign service to be obtained, whose places could well be filled by racing stablemen and lads, whilst in every trade in the rural districts apprentices are required, especially amongst the blacksmiths, plumbers, and other village trades, whilst boys are wanted for farm, garden, and other general work throughout the Welds of Lincolnshire.
But it is not only food and man-power which aro affected, but the useless waste of time and money in the maintenance of establishments and animals "which are not essential to victory." Money is now being asked for to carry on the war, and yet mosey which might well be invested in War Bonds is now being spent in pleasure and amusement. Well may our officers and soldiers on leave from the front express their disgust and astonishment at what they see and hear, and denounce the disregard by so many of their countrymen of the fact that the nation is at war,—
Hairston Hall.
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