RATIONING OF BUTTER

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25812, 25 May 1949, Page 3

RATIONING OF BUTTER

LABOUR SUPPORTS RETENTION (New Zealand Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 24. There was no alternative but to retain the present butter ration in New Zealand, said the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) speaking at the Labour Party conference to-day. The conference rejected by a large majority a remit proposing that the rationing of butter and cream be abolished. Mr Nordmeyer said the Government realised the maintenance of the 6oz ration would be a real hardship in homes where lunches had to be cut. However, in the United Kingdom the fat ration was 3oz of butter, 4oz of margarine, and 2oz of cooking fat a week. The fat position in Britain was the worst supply problem. The supply of meat from the Argentine had recently been curtailed and it was difficult for Britain to maintain the fat ration. New Zealand had asked Britain for its views should an increase from 6oz to Boz be made in the New Zealand ration, and the British Government had pointed out in reply that if New Zealand took this action, it was almost certain that Australia would do the same. This would,make a serious position in Britain even more serious. Mr J. S. Berry, Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, moved an amendment that the ration be increased to Boz a week. The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser, said he did not know of anything that could hit Britain a harder blow than an increase in New Zealand’s butter ration. The butter ration was a very small sacrifice to make on behalf of Britain. The British Government would feel driven to despair if it could not get all the butter New Zealand was sending now. “Britain’s Labour Government is trying to feed the people; don’t let us make the task impossible for them,” concluded Mr Fraser.