JUST ENOUGH

Grey River Argus, 2 February 1944, Page 8

JUST ENOUGH

Bob: How many people in your household, Jim? Jim: Elsie and me and young John, .and Elsie’s mother just now. But why the question? Bob: Wait a bit. How old is J'ohn? Jim: He’s eleven. Bob: That makes four—which comes to 4/8 a week. How much meat does your family eat in a week? Jim: I can’t say exactly how* much. It’s costing me something over 10/- a week, anyway. But what’s this all about? Bob: Just this: Britain’s meat ration is 1/2 worth a week for each person with a half ration for children under five. That’s how I work out that your family would be entitled to 4/8 worth a week in England. Jim: Less than half of what we use now, eh? We’d find that a bit tough. Bob: Well, the people of Britain have 'had to get along on no more than that since early in the war. Jim: And is it enough for them—for health, I mean? Eob: J'ust enough. They depend on us—our supplies from N.Z.—to see that they get their 1/2 worth, which averages about 15ozs. of meat a week. Jim: You mean that all the meat Britain can get from everywhere will allow them only 1/2 worth a week? Bob: Just that. And if supplies aren’t kept up from every source the British people will get less —and that would be near the danger line. Jim: Well, after .all they’ve been through—the blitz and so on—we couldn’t allow that to happen. We should send them all we can, and even cut ourselves down a bit to give them enough.