NO CHRISTMAS HAMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 November 1943, Page 4

NO CHRISTMAS HAMS

■ CONTROLLER’S STATEMENT

No surplus hams will be available for distribution by bacon curers to the retail trade at Christmas. This information has been given to the New Zealand Master Butchers’ Association by the Food Controller (Mr. J. E. Thomas). The sale of ham and bacon, excepting under the authority of the Food Controller, has been prohibited in the Dominion since June 1. The Food Controller says in his announcement to the Master Butchers’ Association that since the restriction on the sale of ham and bacon, bacon curers have been obliged to sell an equal number of sides and hams each month, and have not been permitted to accumulate frozen legs or hams for sale later. In the past it has been a common practice for factories to accumulate hams during the Winter, when there has been little demand, and then arrange a general distribution during Christmas. Because of the restrictions that now exist there will be no surplus of hams for distribution during the Christmas period. The sale of pork products, excepting under the authority of the Food Controller, has been prohibited since May 20. The period of the ban on the sale of pork through ordinary retail channels has been twice extended, and the existing order is due to expire on November .30. All available supplies of fresh and pickled pork have been retained for the use of the armed forces, and the allocation of cured products to the retail trade has been on the basis of one ham to each side.