Evening star., 1942-11-02
Nation 5 Eating Habits
Hinge on Presidents
Food Car Decision
Shorp Changes Possible;
500 Rise in Military,
Lease-Lend Needs Seen


500 Rise in Military,
Lease-Lend Needs Seen
By the Associated Press.
Eating habits of American civil
lans for the duration of the war
may be determined largely by the
decision President Roosevelt makes
on a proposal that he appoint
food administrator to control pro-
duction and consumption.
The proposal, advanced by War
Production Board Chairman Donald
M. Nelson. reflects sharp and funda-
mental differences within the Gov
eminent over war food requirements
and the possibility of further short
ages.
In the meantime, the Agriculture
Department estimated yesterday
that military and lease-lend buying
Of food next year would be SO per
cent greater than during 1942, taking
one-fifth Of farm production.
Livestock Output Up.
The department made the estimate
In forecast of the farm outlook
for next year in which it said more
livestock probably would be pro-
duced, but that crop production
would be smaller than the record
crops of this year unless weather
conditions were exceptionally favor
able.
At the bottom of the differences
between WPB and the Agriculture
Department is the question of how
much manpower, machinery, trans
portation and other facilities should
be devoted to food production.
On the one hand are those-in-
cluding Secretary of Agriculture
Wickard-who believe food produc-
tion should be maintained at pres
ent record levels in order that
civilians, as well as United Nations
fighting forces, may have wen-bal-
anced diets.
On the other hand are those
including some War Production
Board officials and military au-
thorities-who believe the country
cannot meet both its military man
power and material needs and still
maintain agricultural production at
anywhere near present levels.
This latter group contends that,
In the interest of quick and sue
cessful conclusion of the war, food
production should be stripped
largely to cereals, potatoes and
vegetable oil crops for civilians.
Production of meats, dairy and
poultry products and vegetables,
they believe, should be reduced to
a level deemed necessary to provide
military and leaselend require
ments and allow civilians con-
siderably smaller quantity than Is
now made available for them.
Farm Machinery Problem.
Another issue has been ALLEGATION
of materials for farm machinery.
The WPB will allow farmers to get
only % per cent as much machinery
as they bought in 1910. Mr.. Wick
ard believes this is far too little.
Causing other disagreements is
the matter of controlling existing |
food supplies. Mr. Wickard is known
to favor immediate allocation~ or
rationing programs for all major
classes of food to make present
supplies last as long as possible
and to prevent boarding. AS yet
the WPB and the Office Of Price
Administration, agencies responsible
for rationing, have shown little in
clination to agree.
A food administrator would have
to deal with these differences OF
views, take stock of needs and sup
plies, determine production posi-
bilities under varying conditions,
decide how much productive ability
could be spared for food, then de-
velop a plan in accordance. Such
a plan might involve sharp changes
In civilian eating.
Need for Rationing Explained.
The Agriculture Department in
Its forecast on 1943 production said:
There will be enongh food in
the total supply, although there
may be shortages of many individual
commodities. The average civilian
probably will be able to consume
about as much meat in 1943 as in
recent years, but unprecedented
demand resulting from record in
comes will make rationing necessary.
Supplies of canned fruits
and vegetables for civilians may
be smaller next year. The
demand for dairy products in l943
is expected to exceed the supply.
Bread grains will be abundant.
The civilian food supply
may contain less fats, carbo-
hydrates and vitamin A than in
l94l.'
Farmers of the Nation may ex-
pect a net income of $4,000, 900 900
to $10.5O0, 100000, compared with
$4,000, 900 900 this year, which in
turn exceeded the previous record
set in 1919 by about $1,000, 600, 900,
the department figured.
Mr.. Wickard, meanwhile, re-
ouested farmers and others to count
home slaughtered meat in their
voluntary 2h-pound adult weekly
ration.
Mr.. Wickard said in some weeks,
that to prevent spoilage, 1t may
not be practical to space properly
the consumption of home-slaught-
cred meat, but urged that consum-
ers strive to make their weekly
average for the whole year come
out at the recommended figure.
Nazis Claim Eight Sinkings