The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-07
FOOD SUPPLIES
 FOR FIRE MEET
 NORMAL NEEDS
Irish Larder Not Pinched Like Britain's, But Fuel
 Is Scarce
EDITORS NOTE: This is The concluding story of series on Fries economic position.
By REUEL S. MOORE Limited Press StaR COrrespOndent)

By kEUEL B. MOONE
 United Press Stan Correspondent
 Dublin, Oct. 7--(UP)-Erie feels the war mostly in the increased out lay for defense, rising cost of com ! modities, shortage of certain raw materials resulting in dislocation of industry, and shortage of fuel and certain foods.
 Fires food position is far better than Britain's, 1nasmuch as 1t Is self f-sufflcient in many commodi- ties. The Irish produce sufficient meat, butter, milk, sugar, potatoes and vegetables. All but 6o,0oo tons of the normal wheat requirements were grown this year and Erie ex- poets to be self sufficient in wheat next year. Other cereals are ade- quate for human consumption and for normal livestock feed.
 There is shortage of tea, cocoa, tobacco, vegetable oils, coffee and fresh fruit. The tea ration is 1-2 ounce a week, one quarter of the British ration. Sugar is rationed at one pound a week, manly to precent smuggling Into Ulster rather than to restrict local consumption.
 Tobacco Supply Low
 Cocoa is rationed at 1-4 pound a week. Coffee and tobacco while not rationed to individuals are in limited supply. Manufacturers get 20 per cent less tobacco than last year. which the trade undertakes to dis tribute fairly.
 Erie hopes to make good these deficiencies with imports in several ships which 1t has either chartered or purchased.
 The fuel situation is difficult Britain, with coal stringency to contend with, is sending Erie about 30,000 tons Q week or i,600000 tons year, against normal shipment of about 2,50o,0o0 tons year. Erie is trying to make up the deficiency by increasing peat production.
 Peat and Coal Rationed
 Householders in peat areas may not buy coal but may buy peat in unlimited quantities. Householders in other areas are rationed to i-4 ton of coal and 1-2 ton of peat for two months.
 There is shortage of gasoline and fuel oil. Small car owners re- ceive four gallons a month, Sufti- cient for about 150 miles. Bus serv- ices have been curtailed to save Diesel oil, while the Ssortage creates difficulties in threshing grain and in transporting peat to the cities.
 Kerosene may be purchased only for households without electricity or gas, up to hmalf gallan Q month
 The production of cereals has been stepped up greatly to replace supplies formerly brought from over- seas. The wheat acreage this year is approximately 49l 900 acres as compared with 265,290 in 1889. Oats acreage increased from 536, T49 to 77s,00o acres and barley from "a, ,7e4 to 169,o0o acres in the same interval. The i94l wheat harvest is estimated at 200,000 tons. Erie plans to import about 60,000 tons.
 Rising prices have forced the cost of living up from l72 innid-May 1889, to 220 in mid-May, 194l, an increase of 33 per cent.
 Idle Rolls Decline
 Persons on the unemployed bene- it rolls for August numbered H. sos in 1889, 6i,73i in 1940 and ST. 2ls in i941. Tn January they num- bered io3,0e6 in 1889, l17,2s8 in ie40 and l07,358 in 1o4i. The mid- winter figures are larger because they include unemployed agricultur- al workers who are busy in sum mer.
 Erie has felt the curtailment Of British livestock purchases, mainly cattle. The cattle population has been around 5000 GOO head for three quarters of e century. Ordinarily Fire shipped about 100000 live cattle yearly to Britain.
 There has been some grousing and criticism of the Erie govern ment for muddling and lack oi planning in meeting the shortages and various special problems ot supply. Supporters say with the threat of disaster constantly hang In gover the country the govern ment has done well to keep Erie out of the war and has acted promptly to meet a number of unforeseen contingencies.
 The taxpayer feels the increased burden. The income tax basic rates was increased from s shillings z pence in the ponnd to shillings ( pence in the pound. Other taxes and excises have increased.
 Direct loss from belligerent acts has been incidental but not incon- siderable. Fire has lost 10 ships Thirty-four persons were killed ir three air raids, 28 of whom were casualties in the Dublin raid May 3l when 2.25o building were dam- aged.