Evening star., 1942-01-30

brought us abruptly to total war,
including prices.
Because the United States i'm
ports all but 3 per cent Of its
crude rubber from the embattled
Far East. tire rationing pro-
gram went into effect January S;
more than IS per cent of the Ma
tion's motor vehicle users will be
unable to buy new tires. In the
past, 10 to 80 per cent of our
crude rubber went into new tires.
Only about a years normal sup
py Of rubber was on hand Oc-
tober 81.
War naturally means tighten
ing of the consumers belt. The
Director of Consumer Services of
the o. P. A. is charged with see
ing that the standard of living is
maintained on the highest posi-
BILE level consistent with military
requirements. The consumer
service has taken steps to create
an aware buying public, by means
Of a field staff that aids con-
sumers in understanding the
effect of the war program on their
daily lives, and by providing ac-
curate information on good buys
in food and clothing throughout
the country. There is food
enough to go around, but people
at war must eat the right food in
the proper proportions.
While prices have been held
down successfully in large sec
tor of the economy, the general
price level has continued to ad-
vance The Office of Price Ad-
ministrator warns that We face
q disastrous inflationary spiral
unless effective price-control leg
islation becomes the law of the
land.
Food Is Plentiful.
Total war will require us to
do without many things-but not
food. Crop and livestock produc-
ton for 1941 was the greatest in
the history of the country. 1t was
the second consecutive record
year. Unless We experience
droughts of unparalleled severity,
or divert quantities of some spe-
cific product, such as sugar, into
war uses, We are not likely to
have to carry ration cards during
this war. In this, we will be
unique among all the warning ma
tons OF the world.
The abundance Of 1941 was
planned. In December 1910 the
Secretary Of Agriculture appealed
to farmers to increase the l94l
spring pig crop. In response, one
seventh again as many pigs were
farrowed. In April 1941 with
Britain requiring vast quantities
Of animal protein foods and vita
min-rich and mineral-rich vege-
tables and fruits, the Secretary
again appealed to the farmers.
This time he asked for more milk,
eggs, meats, tomatoes and dry
beans. Six billion pounds more
milk were produced, 276,O00 more
dozens of eggs, and $4,000, 900
more pounds of meat.
Even greater production goals
have been set for 1912. Last fall
a program was drawn up for an
overall increase in agricultural
production of Is per cent, suffi-
cient to leave us with surplus
for reserves against the future.
For such commodities as wheat
and cotton, of which We have
huge stocks, no increase was
asked. Instead, farmers were
urged to produce more milk, eggs,
meats, vegetables. During Octo-
ber and November 125 900 farmer
committeeman visited their neigh
bors in every county, reaching
nine of every 10 farmers to in
vite them to sign up for in
creased production.
Our entry into the war COM
PEELED farmers and Government
to revise these 1912 production
goals-upWard. Especially now
do we need more fats and oils,
which means more soybeans and
peanuts and flaXseed The 1912
farm goals now call for produc-
ton II per cent above 1910.
Plan Against Air Raids.
To defeat the enemy's air raids
by keeping him from achieving
his major objectives-panic, un-
checked fires, and the loss of
production-is a task for private
citizens as we'll as for the Army
and Navy. The Office of Civilian
Defense was established last May
to mobilize the necessary forces
from the civilian population.
The o. c. D. has provided an
organiza tional framework for VOL
unteer efforts, with regional units
under national supervision to as