DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 20 June 1945, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS

BUTTER RATION CONCESSIONS WELLINGTON, June 19. . The Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan) announced* to-day that the Government had decided to restore the former basic domestic ration of butter of eight ounces weekly to the following: (a) Expectant and nursing mothers; (b) persons 70 years of age and over; (c) workers who because of their occupations and by virtue of hours employed must take regularly from their homes more than one sandwich meal to their work daily. ' The Government has also decided an additional two ounces will be granted to certain groups of workers living in isolated localities, or whose work involves inaccessability to a normal variety of food, such as workers engaged* on highways and construction, living under camp conditions, scrub cutters, shepherds, deer cullers, opossum trappers, etc. The Minister said that the Government was of the opinion that the reduced ration of six ounces per person should include a cut lunch each day where this was necessary. The concession of an additional two ounces weeklj' was therefore to be allowed only where a second sandwich meal must be taken regularly from home, and would not, of course, be granted where there were canteen or restaurant facilities available. Mr Sullivan also said that although a number of representations had been received for additional meat rations, the Government considered that, having regard to the couponfree meats available, the present rations were reasonable and adequate from a health point of view, FISH PRICES CHRISTCHURCH, June 19. The deadlock between the fishing industry and the Government is now in its third week. The fishing fleet at Lyttelton is still tied up, and the continuous bad weather has prevented a boat leaving for the grounds to catch supplies for hospitals and institutions, which have had only one day’s supply in the last fortnight. A resolution urging “an immediate inquiry into the prices to fishermen, wholesalers, retailers and to consumers locally,” was passed by the Canterbury District Trades Council, wfien the results of further inquiry into the dispute over fish prices were placed before the council. The council based its recommendation on the

peculiar position relating to costs as affecting local fishermen and the increased commission being allowed the wholesaler on the new 1 price basis.