BACON AND BUTTER

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1939, Page 8

BACON AND BUTTER

RATIONING IN BRITAIN.

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

(Recd. November 2, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, November 1

Mr. Morrison, in the Commons, stated that bacon and butter rationing would take place from the middle of December, probably four ounces each weekly per individual- Ration books were being issued, and customers were requested to register with a retailer of their own choice. He added that it would be unnecessary to ration meat and sugar, the supplies being sufficient for normal requirements. He emphasised the importance of avoiding food wastage. The four-ounce ration would depend on the continuance of the present rate of supply. Bacon and butter were perishable, and could not be stored, therefore no reserve existed ta the outbreak of war. Supplies were expected to increase, but imports from Europe were reduced, and therefore there had been insufficient time to fill the gap from moredistant sources. The amount of rationing would depend on the supply, from time to time.

Mr. Morrison reviewed the position of several other commodities. In the case of sugar, the supplies in sight, both home-produced and imported, were sufficient for normal requirements. His conclusion was that there was no need at present to impose rationing for any commodity other than bacon and butter.

The manufacture of margarine had been greatly increased since the outbreak of the war. The quantity of cooking fats available was? equal to normal. MEAT SUPPLIES ADEQUATE. In the case of meat, for which Britain was dependent upon imports for about one-half of her requirements,, adequate supplies should continue io be available. During the last few weeks, there had been some reduction in the volume of imported supplies available in certain districts. This had been due to additional allocations to the fighting services, coupled with the inevitable delay in the arrival of meat ships while the convoying of merchant shipping was being organised. Supplies in sight, however, for the future —home-produced and imported —were ample to meet all requirements, both of the services and the civilian population. Meat rationing was therefore not considered necessary at present.