BUTTER RATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 204, 9 June 1943, Page 4

BUTTER RATION

AUSTRALIAN WORKERS PROTEST INADEQUATE FOR CUT LUNCHES. DOUBLE AMOUNT .WANTED. * (Special Australian Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Roc. '2.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Complaints about butter rationing have been made by Australian eoalminors, wharf labourers and railway-

men. At one colliery 190 miners staged a-one-day strike as a protest against the rationing, claiming that half a poun... of butter weekly for each person was inadequate for miners. _ , The Newcastle Waterside Workers Federation decided to seek an increase in the ration of; butter to wharf labourers. Their complaint, ns that of miners and railwayman, is that they are forced to take many cut meals to their work, sometimes two a day. They contend that this fact, with the nature of their work, justifies a double ration of butter. The vast majority of Australians have accepted butter rationing without complaint, the amount being considered quite adequate for the average consumer. Following appeals to surrender last year’s clothing coupons, many persons, however, feel that they have been unfairly treated by the inclusion of certain manchester goods (towels, sheeting and other cotton goods) in the coupon coverage for personal clothing. City stores report that thousands of women besieged their lay-by departments demanding refunds of deposits and instalments paid on manehester goods. Coupons must now be surrendered for these goods immediately an intending purchaser makes a lay-by. Rumours that flour and soap are likely to be rationed soon have been denied by the Minister of ’Trade and Customs (Senator R. V. Keane). Mild panic buying had started in these commodities. Some people are reported to have bought soap by the hundredweight. The Minister pointed out that it was an offence for any person to spread rumours about the likely rationing of any commodity.