Emergency Food Stores One passage of Sir John Simon's Budget
Speech which evoked unanimous approval was that in which he announced the secret purchase by the Government of sufficient wheat, whale oil and sugar to supply the country during the first months of" an emergency." Secrecy was necessary to prevent a rise in prices ; certainly no one will object because the Government acted without statutory authority. The storage of food will achieve two objects, of which by far the most important is to protect the country from the danger of starvation during a war, the" emergency "the Government has in mind ; it is a remarkable sign of the seriousness of the international situation that Great Britain, which does not often act in advance of events, should be forced to take such steps. The second purpose served is to relieve the enormous burden • which must fall on the merchant navy on the outbreak of war ; the more oversea supplies can be supplemented from domestic stores, the more adequate this country's shipping will be to the difficult task it will have to face. During the last year the Government has been repeatedly urged from several quarters, including The Spectator, to take the essential step that was announced on Tuesday ; it will add considerably to confidence in the Government that the advice was after all not necessary.
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