CO129-504-18 Food supply for the civilian population in event of war 7-4-1927 - 12-12-1927 — Page 12

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an immediate return of frozen meat available for the civil population should be called for and (the nominal roll being complete) sale should be restricted to those on the roll. Whether rationing would be necessary would depend entirely upon the ratio between the Non-European population and the stocks available. Ration cards for the small population concerned could probably be brought into force in 24 hours.

5. Whether it is considered necessary to insist on a

continual stock to meet such an emergency is hardly within

our province to advise. A constant reserve supply of 1 lb. of frozen meat per head of non-Chinese population per day for three months would be most desirable if the financial difficulties do not make this out of the question. In 1914 the Dairy Farm Coy reported that its normal stock of frozen meat in storage was about 520,000 lbs. This would give a ration of just under 1b per day for three months, which would probably suffice. But before deciding on this point of compulsory reserve it would seem desirable to ask the Company to send in a monthly return for a considerable peria showing the actual amount in store on say the 15th of

each month.

6.

It will

It would also be desirable for a similar return

to be rendered of the butter in cold storage, the Dairy Farm Coy, being the principal importers of this. probably be found that the normal stocks of butter would per- mit of an ample ration for the non-Chinese population for

three months.

7. Fresh milk is always abundant for the civil population, the Chinese being generally non-milk drinkers. In the case of a hostile Chinese Population it might be necessary to make provision for European milkers as was

done