In this context we may mention Sir Edward Carson's most
alarmist statement as to the food question and the apparent inability of the public to understand the peril in which they stand, and Lord Nort'neliffe's statement in a letter to his own paper that Sir Edward Carson did not put the matter strongly enough. But what right have Sir Edward Carson and Lord Northcliffe to say that the public will not take the matter seriously as long as the Government do not? Who can say that the Government aro taking it seriously when they hand over foodstuff enough to feed us for five weeks to be destroyed in the manufacture of ton million barrels of beer ? If that were stopped, we can assure Sir Edward Carson that the public would soon sit up and take notice. Now the universal comment is : The Government only want to frighten us. It is all right really, or they would precious soon stop barley being made into beer." A similar question may be put to Lord Northcliffe : How can he expect the public to take notice if the newspapers, though full of lamentation over the food question, make no protest against the Government policy in regard to the manufacture of intoxicants from food, but instead waste precious paper on advertisements of beer and whisky ? No man with a cigar in his mouth will ever make converts to an anti-tobacco crusade.
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