The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-05-22
Food Stamp
Plan 10 Cover
All Montana

Provides New System for
Distributing Surplus
Commodities to Needy.
HAS BEEN TRIED OUT
IN SOME COUNTIES
Extension OF the Federal Food
Stamp Plan for distribution OF Sur
plus Foods to 1871 households re-
ceiving public assistance through
out the remainder of the state of
Montana for the benefit OF farmers
and eligible needy participants was
made possible today when Secretary
of Agriculture, Claude R. Wickard,
at Washington, D. c., announced
the selection of the balance of the
state for operation Of the plan.
The plan, which has been sue
cessfully operating in Cascade, Mis-
soula, Silver Bow, Valley, Yellow
stone, Carbon and Fergus Counties,
will be extended state wide as soon
as. necessary details can be COM
rleted within each county and the
needed machinery is set up for OPP
crafions, Charles r. Kunkel, Acting
Regional Director of the Surplus
Marketing Administration in San
Francisco, announced
Based on the Administration ex-
-,
and other areas where the plan has
been operating, Mr.. Kunkel esti-
mated that the Food Stamp Plan
will provide annually more than
1881 $50 of increased purchasing
power in Montana for farm prod
ucts. This will mean an increase
OF at least this much in the an
nual business OF the retail food
stores OF the state as the Stamp
Plan provides for distributing sur
plus commodities through regular
channels OF trade
It is stated that out Of the total
population, recently estimated at
$685. 62, in the 43 counties In Mon
tana which have not been desig-
nated prior to this time, there are
approximately 1871 households,
representing soane u, 5o3 persons,
eligible 10 receive ptablie ~ stance.
When the Stamp Plan Is in state
wide operation 1t win increase the
purchasing power for farm products
to approximately 81 ,363. 400 (includ-
ing the seven counties now in op-
erat1on). which means an increase
OF at least this much to the exti-
mated 1909 retail food stores III the
state. This increased PURCHASING
power will amount to about 41l3 800
q month.
r~-,..... i.
@AA'aOn - 'nc rooo O'amp riAn
All retail food merchants will b.
given detailed instructions on the
operations OF the Food Stamp Plan.
The primary purposes OF the Food
Stamp Plan is to help farmers The
farmers OF America are raising more
food than they can sell at fair
return. One-fourth Of the country's
population are farmers. They have
80 per cent OF the nations chill
dren. Yet, they receive only IL per
cent of the national income. AS .
result, they cannot buy many need
ed city-made goods.
II the farmers income can be
increased they will be able to buy
more things they need from the
cities. This will make more Jobs
for the people in the cities, Then
the city people will be able to buy
more farm products.
The Food Stamp Plan gives more
buying power for needed foods to
families receiving public assistance
While no one has to take part in
the Food Stamp Plan, those who do
can get more food for their money
This increases their consumption Of
our farm products.
The thousands of grocers and 9TH
er retail food merchants who are CO.
operating in the plan are acting as
statesmen" for our farmers. They
are helping to increase consump-
ton OF burdensome farm surpluses
by everybody-both public assisted
people and the general public.
Under the plan, eligible partici.
pants can select - right off their
grocers' shelves-the kind and ouan.
tity of foods they need. Thus. these