RATIONING OF BUTTER

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26032, 8 February 1950, Page 2

RATIONING OF BUTTER

ABOLITION WANTED VIEWS OF HOUSEWIVES’ UNION Although it favours the abolition of butter rationing, the Canterbury Housewives’ Union will inform the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr C. M. Bowden) that it wants the subsidy on the price of butter to be retained. This was decided at a general meeting of the union last evening. Housewives had submitted to butter rationing to assist people in England, said the presilent (Mrs M. E. Furey), but the English ration of butter had not even been increased by half an ounce. Canada, she continued, had now such a surplus of butter, including New Zealand butter, that it was starting an “eat more butter” campaign. ' “We should see that the lifting of the subsidy on butter does not come with abolition of rationing,” said the secretary (Mrs K. Dunmill). “Mr Holland has said that this pernicious subsidy system has to go. You will have 1° ?,2. s 3d for what you now pay Is 6d. The people who are taxed to make subsidies possible are those best able to do so—the men on the higher incomes,” said Mrs Dunmill. “There are rumours that subsidies are to go. I think we should get in first.” She said she would like to see women’s and children’s and trade union organisations co-operate in making a public protest against any lifting of subsidies.

NELSON GROCERS SEEK ABOLITION

(New Zealand Press Association) r NELSON, February 7. In the three months since the butter ration was increased by 25 per cent., the sales of butter in Nelson have increased by only 9.7 per cent. This was announced at a meeting of the Nelson Master Grccers’ Association when it was decided to urge the Minister of Supply (Mr C. M. Bowden) to recommend the abolition of rationing. The president of the association (Mr B. Stallard) said it was felt that the immense amount of work entailed for both grocers and rationing office employees was not justified. The figures showed that most families were not using their full ration. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS Miss E. M. G. Routh and Miss E. Lovat Hamilton, of Wentworth House, Richmond, Surrey, are visiting New Zealand and are at present'in Rotorua. Miss Routh, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, is the author of the standard English works “English Occupation of Tangier, 1661-1684,” “Sir Thomas More and His Friends,” and “Lady Margaret,” a monograph of Lady Margaret Beaufort, adopted patroness of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, from which Miss Routh took honours in history. During the 1914-18 war, Miss Routh’s family home, the Manor House, Wendover, was open to New Zealand servicemen. Miss Lovat Hamilton plans to record New Zealand bird songs while in the Dominion, and to produce a short documentary film depicting characteristic features of Maori life, to be submitted for showing at the Edinburgh festival, 1951. FASHION TRENDS Hems are still going up. Skirt lengths 14| inches from the ground were forecast by members of the “Big Eleven”—the Incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers, whose London show opened at the end of January. They predicted slim silhouettes and impressive pockets. Designer Peter Russell said his collection was “very sleek, very elegant.” He was introducing a dark lavender blue called “blue fog.” For older women Molyneux was to show some skirts 15 inches from the f’ound, and others half an inch longer. is predominating colours were to be yellow, grey, and silver. The newest member of the “Big Eleven,” Michael Sherard, builds his collection around neutral tones. ENGAGEMENT The engagement is announced of Phyllis, only daughter of Mrs and the late Mr D. Lunay, Bulls, to Robin Lionel, youngest son of Mr and the late Mrs F. A. Boocock, Christchurch. Commenting on the ensemble which it was stated Mrs Romaine Simpson, now the Marchioness of Milford Haven, was to wear for her wedding last Saturday, a Washington correspondent said Mrs Simpson had chosen a streetlength afternoon frock of “romaine pink” silk covered with fine matching French lace. Sophie Stewart, who plays the leading feminine role in the play “Edward My Son,” soon to be presented in Christchurch, started her career as a ballet dancer, but permanently injured her shin muscles in 1926, soon after she was chosen to tour Australia with Pavlova. In “Edward My Son” she plays opposite Robert Morley. The attractive bonnet-shaped hats worn by the Scottish women competitors at the Empire Games are not imports from Scotland—they were made by an Auckland firm of hat manufacturers. “Those hats, which have been universally admired, designed here in Auckland by my firm for our own New Zealand girls’ team some months ago,” said the managing director. “When their chaperon, Mrs R. F. Ellis, saw the design she was delighted. It was sent to Wellington for approval by the Empire Games Committee and was rejected. When the Scottish girls arrived they asked us to outfit them with hats, and fell in love with this design at sight. Since then their hats have been generally admired, while the berets eventually chosen for the New Zealand girls have been much criticised.”

The matron of the Cashmere Sanatorium gratefully acknowledges the following gifts received for patients during January: fruit, tobacco and matches from the Returned Services’ Association; fruit, sweets, and tobacco from the Navy League; fruit and tobacco from the Red Cross Society; fruit and magazines from the Sanatorium Service Committee; clothing from anonymous donors; magazines from Miss Hughes, N.M.R., and anonymous donors. Gifts from the Fresh Air Home are gratefully acknowledged as follows: balloons from the Guildex Rubber Company; scrap books from the Qpawa Methodist Church; birthday cake from Mr and Mrs de la Mare; handkerchiefs and scrap books from Aunt Haysi and Leaguers.