Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1918-02-07
FOOD CONTROLLER Of
CANADA GIVES WARMING
Food Production Should Be In.
creased at All Cost.

In his letter to the public on the
list of January, Hon. w. ]. Hanna, Gan.
ada's Food Controller, says:-
Authoritative information has
reached me that food shortage in Eu.
rope is terribly real, and only the
sternest resolve on the part of the pro.
ducers, and equally stern economies on
the part of all as consumers, can pos
sibly q V the situation.
France last year had a crop be.
tween one-tlird and one-half that OF
a normal year. Women did the work Of
draught animals in a determined effort
to make the impoverished soil Of
France produce every possible ounce
OF food. They now look to us to make
up their deficiency of essential sup
plies.
normal and will require much larger
supplies TO feed her people until next
harvest.
ut is impossible for the allies to
spare many cargo carriers to transport
foodstutt from India. Australia, New
Zealand and even the Argentine Repub-
lie. This lee that the allied nations
are practically dependent upon North
America to supply them with the food
which must be forthcoming il terrible
suffering is to be avoided and the fight
ing efficiency OF the armies maintained.
On December I, the United States
had not Il single bushel of wheat for
pynnff offnr o]1nu.n,nn ,,.,e. n 4, D.,
domestic requirements on the basis Of
normal consumption, and the United
States Food Administration is endeav.
orlng to bring abont a reduction Of 20
per cent in home consumption of wheat
and -four. This would release 100, OOO,-
600 bushels for export, but the Allies
Will require nearly five times TINT
amount before the 1918 harvest.
Canada is the only country in the
world, practically accessible to the Al
lies under present conditions of ship
ping shortage, Which has an actual OK.
portable surplus of wheat after allow
ance for normal home requirements.
The surplus today is not more than
10000 900 bushels. 4 reduction of 20
per cent i'm Our normal consumption
would save an additions! 100000 o
bushels for export. The outlook for
production Of food stufrs in Europe
next year is distinctly unfavornble.
Such is the situatiol-gravc beyond
anything that we thought possible a
few months age. Unless our people
are aroused TO n realization Of What
the world shortage means TO MS. To or
soldiers and to our Allies. and Of the
terrible possibilities which it entails,
disaster is inevitable.
"Production. too, must be Increased
to the greatest possible extent. Pres
ent war conditions demand %cxtranrli-
nary efforts, and every man. woman.
boy or girl who can produce food has
n national duty to do SC.
II am confident that when the people
of this country realize that the food
situation is of utmost gravity they will
willingly adjust themselves to the ne
cessities of the case and make what
ever sacrifices may be required. The
call which is made upon them is in
the name of The Canadian soldiers at
the front, the allied armies. and the
civilian populations of the allied nn-
tons who have already made food sac
ritices to an extent little realized by
the people of this country"
Here is al appeal made by IL man,
upon whom rests the great responsible
ity Of assisting IN providing food for
the allies and the soldiers ut the front,
who are fighting the battles in mud
and blood. 1t cannot be ignored. At
home we are living in luxury and ex-
~travagance inclined to idleneSs and for
getfulness. This must cease. We must
save and produce. Our lands must be
titled nc matter where 1t may be, in
Canada OF the United States. 1t is
our duty to cultivate. Splendid oppor-
tunities in the United States arc open
for further cultivation of lands. West
ern Canada also offers opportunities in
high producing lands at low prices.
Decide for yourself where you can do
the most good, on land in the United
States or in Canada, and get to work
Observation-Disclosures.