The sun., 1918-07-04
VISCOUNT RHONDDA,
FOOD CHIEF, DIES
Self Imposed Rationing Under
mined Health of British
Supply Controller.
SAVED NATION IN CRISIS
Worked Way From Collicry to
Coal Magnatc and Ma
tiOnal HOnOrs.

LONDON. July 3.--Viscount Rhondda,
the British Food Controller. died at
1.lanwern Park, wales. to which he re-
/ tired several weeks ago when his health
began to fail. His Illness was due In
! part to the exposure he underwent when
| the I.usitania was sunk and was agra
waited by his self-impossd rationing.
which undermined his health. lie was
| SO years old.
David Alfred Thomas was England's
coal king before he was elevated to the
| peerage and made Food Controller or
Great Britain lie was born IN Aber-
dare, Wales, March 26, 1856. and as q
boy worked in a grocery store. later
entering the colliery in which his father
had an interest. Ills rise to the position
OF magnate was rapid and In 1915 he
effected "A great combination known as
, the Cambrian mines, in which he was
controlling director.
His reputation was that ~ a hard.
resourceful fighter. whose sympathies
| were with the people. He served as
president OF the Chamber Of Commerce
for Cardiff and was sent TO Parliament
from that district in 1910. He was
made Baron OF Llanwern In 1916, and
June OF this year was made Niscount
In recognition OF his delivery of England
! from a food crisis. In the winter or
1917 when the expected American sup
plies Of wheat and meat did not arrive,
II was Lord Rhondda's careful handling
of the food distribution that saved Eng
! land from extreme hardship.
wnr on Proateerine.
On accepting the ONCE In the Lloyd
George Cabinet he said: Lloyd George
conscripted me for this almost impo~i-
bic Job because he knew that had the
hide OF rhinoceros. ! am going there
as guardian and trustee Of the con-
sumner. and particularly the poor con-
sumer. am determined to stop
profteering and speculation in food"
| The appointment became effective In
June, 1917, after the Office had been
refused by three others. At once, under
the power given him by the defence OF
| the realm act. the new Controller took
over the wheat. potato. barley. oats and
rye crops. He announced that the solu-
| ton of Great Britaln's food supply was
| In America, and he set ou to obtain the
cooperation OF the United States. He
/ had met Herbert q. Hoover in England
and discussed Mr.. Hoover's work In Bel
gium. lie said
II accepted this appointment because
President Wilson had appointed in
America n man OF such high calibre as
Mr.. Hoover. The sooner American food
regulations are fixed the better 1t will
be for u.s.
From the beginning Of his administra-
ton Lord Rhondda had the advantage
| Of every aid that could be given by
the American Food Administration, and
| when in January OF this year he asked
for $4,000. 900 bushels OF wheat Mr..
Hoover replied
I'VE will export every bushel Of grain
that the American people save from
their normal consumption. We believe
our people will not fall TO meet the
emergency"
Food Ration q Success.
IT was almost Immediately after this
that the rationng system was put Into
effect in England and In practically all
OF the United Kingdom The sight OF
the long queues which had stood long
through the winter waiting for portions
OF food from the community stores be-
came a thing Of the past. Customers
were required in every community to
register. to buy only at one store and
| to buy at no store where they could
not be accommodated quickly. Drastic
| restrictions were put on the use OF
wheat and grains
When hrst called upon 10 help the
Government Lord RhOndda turned over
the management of his vast interests In
Welsh collier!es and other concerns ia
his daughter, Lady Mackworth, who
since has officiated as managing director.
The test of his popularity was con-
| stantly proved. Against Soured food
dealers ne warred until they capitu-
lated He did not worry England In
the days OF food shortage during last
winters cold. He cheered and encour-
ared
His greatest source OF satisfaction IN
his work was the fact that the German
Government had directed it's newspapers
10 he silent about the food supply in
England He said this spring that Eng
land Is where Germany was two years
ago, but she is getting more food and
all are fed
What is good enough for my wife is
good enough for any one"
Lady Rhondda was the daughter OF G.
A. IIaig OF Pen'thon. Wales. They were
married in 1882 A daughter was born
10 the marriage but died, and Lord
Rhondda leaves no heir
Lord Rhonddas resignation from the
post OF Food Controller was first mad.
in February, when his health failed He
continued in absentia at the Premier
request and was officially in office when
he died There is no doubt that his life
was shortened by the intensity Of his
administration and his self-imposed diet
ing. His interests were those Of the ma