BUTTER RATION?

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1943, Page 6

BUTTER RATION?

MERCHANTS IRRITATED

Irritation as the result of persistent rumours concerning the rationing of butter has arisen among Auckland butter merchants, several of whom have expressed the opinion that the uncertainty should be removed, one way or the other. "If the Government is going to impose rationing it should let us know where we stand," said one merchant. "Ministers have been making statements about it for months and every time mention is made of it the trade goes crazy, with a rush of buying." No confirmation could be obtained in Auckland yesterday of the latest rumour that butter rationing was to be imposed within a week. Inquiries at the Internal Marketing Division were fruitless and the District Rationing Controller, Mr. C. Clark, stated that he had had no information on the subject. "We have had no intructions. We have received the new ration books, but no advice as to what the extra pages are for," said Mr. Clark. "There are extra pages in the books, just as in the old books there were pages which 'were never used. There is no indication on the coupons as to what they are to be used for."

The managers of a number of large wholesale firms which deal extensively in butter all disclaimed any knowledge as to an early introduction of butter rationing, beyond what had been stated by various Ministers. One remarked that if the ration was to' be eight ounces the manufacturers would surely be told. As it was, his firm had not one half-pound butter wrapper in stock.