OUR FOOD SUPPLY IN TIME OF WAR 315 



gency under notice. One witness, who speaks with 

 authority for the working classes, when asked what 

 would be the general results of a war to the working 

 classes in the present condition of our food supply, 

 replied : — 



"When you are giving the matter serious thought, 

 it is almost too terrible to think of what would be the 

 result. If our food supply, for which we have to 

 depend upon other countries so very largely, were 

 prevented coming into this country, that must increase 

 prices to a terrible extent, and I am quite sure of this, 

 that a very large number of workers would see starva- 

 tion at once. . . ." 



As to the dangers arising from conditions of war 

 (Q. 181 7), he stated: "When you get men into a 

 destitute condition, and starvation is facing them, men 

 will not be too particular. ... Men will not starve 

 quietly so long as there is food to be obtained, honestly 

 or dishonestly. That follows as a matter of course." 



To the further question as to whether the people 

 would put pressure on the Government to end the 

 war, the witness replied : "I am sure they would. 

 Men who are starving would not have any compunc- 

 tions about putting the utmost pressure upon the 

 Government to stop the war under any conditions 

 when they are starving."^ 



One witness touches the root of the matter by say- 

 ing : " I think the" best and cheapest way to provide 

 our food supplies in time of war would be to provide 

 for them in times of peace " ; and when questioned as 

 to the best methods of doing this, he replied : — 



^ George D. Kelly, secretary of the Manchester and Salford Trades 

 and Labour Council. See evidence, Vol. II, p. 312. 



