FOOD CAMPAIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 July 1946, Page 3

FOOD CAMPAIGN

SHARP DECLINE IN COUPON SAVING COMMENT BY CHAIRMAN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 30. A sharp decline in savings of meat and butter coupons was recorded for last week, although the figures are still higher' than the lowest levels reached exactly two months ago. A total of 6923 butter and 180,791 meat coupons was recorded, as saved during the week. Districts changed order very considerably. Blenheim moved from fourth to win the weekly pennant, while Palmerston North and Napier both advanced, the latter taking second place. Napier savings represent nearly two coupons a household for the week.

The chairman of the National Famine Emergency Committee, Mr. T. N. Smallwood, said to-night that fluctuation was normal at the close of a month, but it was equally significant, that the general standard of the savings effort had slipped everywhere with the exception of Blenheim, Napier, Gisborne, Palmerston North and Nelson.

“The bottom six districts—Dunedin, New Plymouth, Westport, Wellington, Auckland and Greymouth—-are at a standard which it is hard to believe represents the normal spirit of sacrifice and can only be explained by some lack of realisation of the urgency of the appeal,” said Mr. Smallwood. “Tremendous efforts are being made to make August a record month.”

Mr. Smallwood said the food-saving of some larger centres lacked sincerity and in Auckland and Wellington was a disgrace. .If each household in New Zealand would save even one coupon weekly the total saving would be 400,000 coupons.