THE BUTTER RATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1945, Page 4

THE BUTTER RATION

- WILL REDUCTION HELP? The suggestion that an increase in production would be a more effective means of assisting Britain than a reduction in the butter ration was put forward by speakers at this week's meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, when a committee was formed to investigate and report on ways and means of giving additional help to the Old Country. One speaker pointed out that a cut of 2oz in the present ration would, in terms of practical help to Britain, be little more than a gesture. Mr. E. A. Hollins said that according to his figures, the extra 4000 tons saved by a 2oz cut here would mean approximately- only 3oz a person a year for the people of' Britain. Mr. E. Windley said that the question of increased production should have been tackled seriously long ago. Increased production would be needed for years, and an appeal should be made to the Government to assist with man-power. ''There are problems that the farmers themselves will have to overcome," he said, "but you have only to appeal to the farmer and give him reasonable encouragement, and he will respond to the call." He did- not think that further rationing would be of any use. The thing to do was to appeal to the Government and to the producer, and many who had gone out would come back if they could see clearly ahead. Mr. Mcllroy: How long would it take for any appreciable increase in dairy production to be felt? Mr. Windley: It would take 12 months. Mr. Gordon Stewart said it was easy to ask the farmers to increase production, but the only way the' city people could feel that they were directly helping Britain would be to reduce the ration. The increase in production had been tackled more thoroughly in through farmers' committees. Farmers would listen to farmers sooner than to someone who had never been on a farm. Some of the Primary Production Councils had been doing good work, though not much was heard about them.