HOUSEWIVES TO PRESS THE DELIVERY ISSUE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1947, Page 10

HOUSEWIVES TO PRESS THE DELIVERY ISSUE

'While the main point of interest at the meeting of the Wellington' Housewives’ Association this week concerned the interview which officers of the association had recently with the Price Tribunal over the price of fish, several additional matters'brought up by members were scarcely of less import from the viewpoint of the meeting.' A suggestion that beer should be rationed in New Zealand was vigorously supported. Household deliveries were discussed and it was agreed that the association draw the attention of the Prime Min’to recent New South Wales legislation, which made household delivery of foodstuffs compulsory, and urge that similar action be taken in New Zealand.

The disparity of clothing sizes was illustrated by a member, who displayed two boys’ grey flannel shirts. One, size 12, had been washed many times, but its sleeves were still two inches longer than one, size 14, bought that morning. Because of the difficulties of labour and feed, a member announced that according to a poultry-farmer, eggs were going to be even more scarce next year. This man had told her that, Borauso of these difficulties, he was goi nt io cut down his present number of fowls, 1500, to no more than 300 next year. Rationing Of Beer It was contended by another member that because of the better subsidies ruling for barley, less wheat was being grown in the Dominion, and the next commodity that would be in short supply would be flour. She had been told also that barley was a more profitable' crop than wheat and much of it was sold outright on the black market to brewers. In view of the world shortage of cereals and sugar, it was felt that beer should be rationed, said a member, who quoted figures to show that the .consumption of ale and beer had increased over the past year in New Zealand. Beer and other liquor flowed in unlimited supply, while sugar and grain, used in its making, were

short all over the world, she said. Beer could be rationed by reducing the amount of sugar and barley to brewers. Beer had been-rationed in Sweden for years, said another spokesman, who added that Sweden was a country noted for Its orderly living and right thinking. High Cost Of Fish When the Housewives’ Association met the Price Tribunal and protested against the high cost of fish, it asked why, with more fish now being caught round Wellington than was the case a year ago, it should be so dear. Tribunal officers had said that the fact that more fish was being caught might not be a good thing, as the Marine Department had warned against the depletion of the not-prolific fishing grounds around Wellington. A boat which formerly put out 20 lines might now use 70, and one which used to carry 40, now had 140 lines in use.

Fish had never been cheap in New Zealand, the association was told. Members at the meeting disagreed with this statement by the tribunal. The association said the present price of fish made it a considerable item in an ordinary family budget. The figures it supplied to the Price -Tribunal indicated the high cost of a fish meal for a family, as against other types of meals. Jt was a highly recommended

article of diet, but, at the present prices, was too costly for many people.

With regard to the pricing of fish, the tribunal assured the association that, in the new award for fish, pricing and ticketing were to be enforced.