Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1916-11-16

LONDON, Nov. 15.-IO:25 p. m.)-
Walter Runciman, president Of the
board OF trade, in parliament today,
outlined the governments proposal
for dealing with the food problem.
The speech of Mr.. Runciman had sig
nificance. aside from it's actual con
text, as showing that the government
is looking forward to prOtracted hos.
tilities and foresees the necessity OF
timely measures for insuring the ma.
tional food supply by an effective or.
ganization of national resources in a
similar manner to that adopted in en-
emy countries
Mr.. Runciman, in his speech, an.
nounced the imminent appointment Of
food controller with full power over
all departments concerned in food sup
plies and immediate measures to re.
strict the luxurious use of sugar, to
prevent waste and the making Of large
profits in potatoes and milk and for
forbidding the milling of pure white
flour. He said also that the govern
ment would ask new powers under
the defense-Of-the-realm act to deal
with all attempts to exploit public
necessities.
These measures, Mr.. Runciman eX.
planned would be temporary, but if
they were found insufficient 1t might
become necessary to have recourse
in food tickets.
The speech of the president Of the
board of trade was welcomed in all
narts Of the house Sir Edward Car.
son. on behalf Of the opposition, Geo.
!. Wardle. for the laborites, agreed
that the house was ready to grant the
power asked without the formality Of
a bill.
Mr.. Runciman, In opening his
speech, admitted that the time had ar.
rived when the government must re.
gard the question of food supplies as
a war problem, declaring that the
strain the country would have to bear
next year. would be mainly in con.
nection with the food supply. He was
only able to express the sure and Ger.
tain hope that. however tragic it might
be, the strain was still more severe
in Germany and Austria.
Dealing with the wheat question,
Mr.. Runciman said the government
had taken full advantage of the abun-
dant harvests of Canada and Austria.
liza. which had been augmented by an
enormous production in the United
States. but that next year the country
would have to depend to large ex
tent on Australia. Arrangements with
Australia, he added, were rather
question of stimulating not production
but transport.
Already large block of tonnage
had been requisitioned and was on
it's way to Australia, Mr.. Runciman
continued. The transport difficulty
had been enhanced by the need of
coming to the assistance of France
and Italy, but the government had TAX
on the right step in regarding that
the whole of the entente allied wheat
shipment should be dealt with by
one reauisitioned fleet He empha
sized the importance of transport and
the absolute necessity of shipping be
ing regarded as serving the national
interests when it was conveying food
to the kingdom.
Mr.. Runciman also referred to the
constant difficulty and the anxiety of
satisfying in this respect. the conflict
ing interests of the naval and the mer.
chant service. especially considering
the fact that Great Britain was called
upon to provide not only for it's own
needs but those of her allies. He saw
no reason, why, at TIE end of this
year, the production of new shipping
for the preceding six months should
not approach 100000 tons.
Announcing that he was making ar.
rangements tor the pooling of engi
fContinned on Page Eight.)