USED FOR PIG FOOD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 92, 19 April 1945, Page 8

USED FOR PIG FOOD

CONDEMNED BISCUITS

EXPLANATION GIVEN

A reply was made today by the" Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Nash) concerning comments that have been published regarding the crushing for pig food of biscuits made in New Zealand for the use of the Armed Forces. "It is important to have the facts in connection with the action which has been taken, because the intentional wastage of food which could be used for people in the devastated areas would, of course, be a very serious matter," said Mr. Nash. "The biscuits were made in New Zealand for the United States Joint Purchasing Board and were duly shipped in special containers to the Pacific for the use- of troops in the forward areas. It was found that the biscuits were surplus to requirements owing to the fact that some troops had moved forward, and, after lying about the islands for some considerable time iri exposed positions, the biscuits were brought back to New Zealand by the American authorities for, disposal to the best advantage. The consignment was examined by the Department of Health, and the biscuits were declared unfit for human consumption. The United States Joint Purchasing Board then agreed to the biscuits being disposed of as stock and poultry food and the sale was arranged under the normal procedure, namely, through the War Assets Realisation Board. "In a large consignment it is highly probable that some biscuits would be in a good condition, but it was decided to mix them with concentrates and use them for stock feed instead of repacking the biscuits after examination for defective lots and consigning them overseas. I am satisfied that it would have been unwise to send the whole consignment overseas and that the best economic use has been made of the biscuits concerned."