PRESIDENTIAL ADDUESS. 767 



The rather humiliating panic which took possession during the first lew 

 days of the war of a certain section of the population, who rusiied to accumu- 

 late stores of provisions, arose not only from selfishness but from insufficient 

 appreciation of the main facts about food supplies. Our large imports of food 

 are constantly dinned into the ears of the people, but the extent and possi- 

 bilities of our native resources are practically unknown. It is very natural, 

 therefore, that the man in the street should assume that even a temporary 

 interruption of oversea supplies would bring us face to face with famine. 



Within the first few days of the war, the Government, through the Board of 

 Agriculture, obtained return.';, not only of the stocks of all kinds of food-stuffs 

 in the country, but also of the stocks of feeding-stuffs for anijnals and of ferti- 

 lisers for the land. Powers were taken under the Articles of Commerce 

 (Returns, &c.) Act to compel holders of stocks to make returns, but it is due 

 to tlie trading community to say that in only two instances, so far as the Board 

 of Agriculture was concerned, was it necessary to have recourse to compulsion. 

 The returns of stocks of food-stuffs, feeding-stuffs, and fertilisers have been 

 made regularly to the Board of Agriculture * every month since the outbreak of 

 war, and the loyal co-operation of the traders concerned deserves cordial recog- 

 nition by those whose official duty has been rendered comparatively easy by 

 their assistance. I may be allowed to add that the readiness with which 

 traders communicated information which was, of course, of a very confidential 

 nature, displayed a confidence in Government Departments which they may 

 regard with some satisfaction 



A very casual glance at the national dietary suffices to .show that John Bull 

 is an omnivorous feeder, and, as the whole world has eagerly catered for 'his 

 table, hi.s demands are exigent. But, for various reasons, our daily bread, 

 reluctant though most of us would be to be restricted to it, is regarded as the 

 measure and index of our food supplies. On the 4th of August the Board of 

 Agriculture published an annouiuenient that they estimated the wheat-crop 

 then on the verge of harvest at 7,000,000 quarters, and that, including other 

 stocks in hand, there was at that time sufficient wheat in the country to feed 

 the whole population for four months ; and a few days later, having then 

 obtained further information from about 16U of the principal millers, they 

 stated that the supplies in the country were sufficient for five months' consump- 

 tion. The Board also announced, on August 5, that the potato crop would 

 furnish a full supply for a whole year's consumption without the necessity for 

 any addition from imports. When it was further announced that the Govern- 

 ment had taken steps to ensure against a shortage of sugar it began to be 

 generally realised that at any rate the country was not in imminent danger of 

 starvation. Indeed, on a broad survey of the whole situation, it was apparent 

 that our native resources, together with the accumulated stocks of various 

 commodities held in granaries, warehouses, and cold stores, would enable the 

 United Kingdom to face even the unimaginable contingency of a complete 

 blockade of all its ports for a considerable period. 



Nevertheless it was abundantly evident, not only to the man in the street, 

 but even to those whose duty it was to consider such matteis, that the main- 

 tenance of regular supplies was essential to avoid undue depletion of stocks. 

 The risk that a certain number of vessels carrying food to this country might 

 be sunk by the enemy was obvious, and it was at first very difficult to measure 

 it. After a year of strenuous endeavour by the enemy' it is satisfactory to 

 record that, although a few cargoes of food-stuffs have been sunk, the effect on 

 supplies has been practically negligible. 



Under these circumstances it appeared that, provided adequate protection 

 were given against unusual risks, commercial enterprise might in the main be 

 relied upon to supply the demands of the people in the normal manner and in 

 the usual course of business. It is a self-evident axiom that it is better not 

 to interfere in business matters unless there is a paramount necessity for inter- 

 ference. 



The machinery of modern business in a highly organised community is very 



' Returns in Scotland and Ireland are made to the Agricultural Departments 

 of those countries and the results transmitted to the Board of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries. 



