EXTRA BUTTER

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 118, 15 November 1945, Page 6

EXTRA BUTTER

MEALS BROUGHT FROM

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"It has been reported that men residing near Tirau and employed on local highways receive an extra halfpound of butter a month," stated Mr. G F. Sim (National, Rotorua) and Mr. W. S. Goosman (National, Waikato) in the House, of Representatives yesterday. "Their ration permits," they stated, "bear a rubber stamp impression reading 'P.W. New Zealand Workers' Union, W.. T. Shilton, secretary, Auckland branch.' Similar privileges for local body employees working under the same conditions have been refused by the rationing controller. It is also stated that a union organiser tours the country with a wad of blank forms and fills them in on the spot."

Messrs. Sim and Goosman gave notice to ask. the Minister of Supply whether the Minister would consider the cvctension to all workers doing heavy manual work and who regularly took a cut lunch the same extra butter ration privilege as that granted to the New Zealand Workers' Union. The Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan) said a rule had been laid down for the guidance of the rationing controller that where circumstances required workers to take two cut meals an extra ration was to be provided. There was no hit-and-miss principle about it. As far as he knew there had been no complaints since the rule had been introduced and it had been widely accepted by the community. Mr. F. W.. Doidge (National, Tauranga) : What about the second $art of the question that union secretaries are carrying blank forms round with them and are issuing them at their own sweet will.

Mr. Sullivan replied that he heard so many rumours of that kind that he would just like to see the evidence of it before he made any comment.

Mr. J. Thorn (Government, Thames) Tittle-tattle.