The Dominion TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1943. DISCREDITABLE DELAY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 270, 10 August 1943, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1943. DISCREDITABLE DELAY

Early last May, at a meeting held in a small village in the North Auckland district, the Minister of Marketing disclosed the fact that the British Government had “asked that butter should be rationed in New Zealand and Australia so that the ration of 2oz. a person can be maintained in Britain.” The Commonwealth authorities promptly responded by establishing a ration of Boz., the same as that fixed in Canada some time ago, although prolonged dry weather in Australia had had serious effects upon the output of dairy produce. Last winter, when Canada had difficulty in maintaining her shipments to the Mother Country, the authorities there did not hesitate to cut the ration still further to 6oz. In Australia the Minister in charge of these operations, when announcing the Commonwealth Government’s intentions, said that “no one will complain of the half-pound ration per week when Britain survives on 2oz. a head weekly.” But all the New Zealand Government did in the matter was to decide to give'consideration to the request of the British Government. That was away back in May. Questioned in the House last week by a Labour lady member who wanted some statement to 4 'allay the fears of the housewives of the Dominion,” Mr. Barclay replied that “butter rationing is under consideration by the Government at present,” so that we are in exactly the same position as we were early last’May. Nothing at all has been done to assist the women and children of the Mother Country, yet this country consumes per head more butter than either Australia or Canada; is a more important source of supply to Great Britain than either of them, and ‘ ias > the limitation of domestic consumption, a greater reserve on which to draw. Last season, owing chiefly to adverse climatic conditions, the output fell, but the deficiency could have been more than made good by introducing a rationing system similar to that now operating in the other Dominions. As for the alleged fears of the housewives in New Zealand there has not been, and there is not likely to be, the slightest opposition from them to a ration that would be four times that available in Britain. Indeed it is a reflection on them to suggest anything of the kind. There would still be ample food supplies here that are so scarce at Home; plenty of cooking fats here that are strictly limited there. It could not be contended for a moment that a ration of Boz. per head here adopted in order that one of 2oz. could be maintained in Britain would constitute any form of hardship. We are not in the cockpit of the war, liable to bombing attack at any time or dependent upon overseas supplies for vital foodstuffs. This is an opportunity for consumers to make a valuable and needed contribution to the war effort, and it could be said here, as was said in Australia, that the rationing of foodstuffs of which we can produce abundance tor self-sufficiency “is a. necessary part of our contribution to the United Nations’ common war effort.” And it is a contribution that could be made without anyone suffering hardship or indeed making any material sacrifice. Yet it would mean a tremendous service to our kinsfolk in Britain. . Months have gone by since the request was received, but absolately nothing has been done by the New Zealand Government. Consideration, we are told, is still proceeding. And it will in all probability proceed until after the general election. The failure to dp what the British authorities, in their extremity, have asked cannot be attributed to lack of supplies here, for rationing would have made some thousands of tons available. It must be set down to timidity because of the approaching elections and to nothing else. It seems incredible that this country should have hesitated to do what Australia did, and did so promptly. There are no reports of Australian housewives entertaining any fears, and their position with regard to dairy produce is by no means as assured as is ours. Canada has acted, and so lias Australia, but New Zealand that .produces and consumes more butter per head than either of them “considers” the matter for months and does nothing. That is a reflection on the Dominion that was never deserved and should never have been cast. _ It is the result of men putting their political plans before the national duty, studying their ambitions before the needs of the Mother. Country, “considering” over a period of months when the call was for immediate action.