N.Z. BUTTER RATION RAISED TO HALF POUND WEEKLY

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1949, Page 7

N.Z. BUTTER RATION RAISED TO HALF POUND WEEKLY

WELLINGTON, Oct. 12

The present butter ration of six ounces weekly will be increased to eight ounces as from October 24. This was announced by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Nordmeyer, who said the Government had given every consideration to the whole question of abolishing the rationing of butter and cream and had come to the conclusion that such action would not be justified for another year or so. On the other hand, the time had come when an increase could be made in the butter ration without jeopardising supplies to Britain. Mr Nordmeyer said that while it might be true that some people got more than their share of butter and cream, it was not true to say that in every town in the country people could get all they wanted. It was true that in New Zealand, as in the United Kingdom, considerable increases had occurred in the use of milk and milk products. That was in line with the advice of the health authorities. Consumption would, however, have been much greater but for rationing.

Disappointment that the rationing of butter has not been abolished was expressed by the president of the Wellington Master Grocers’ Association, Mr M. S. Mackie.

He said the grocers, while desiring to help the people of Britain, were disappointed at the retention of a war-time restriction which imposed on them a vast amount of additional work for which they received no recompense.

Opposition Comments

Oct. 12

In the House to-day the rationingquestion was raised by Mr J. J. Maher (Nat. Otaki), who said that the present ration was insufficient for families who had to be provided with cut lunches and for workers who required substantial meals. He asked if the Minister would consider the abolition of cream rationing. In some districts the rationing of that commodity was severe, but in others it was readily available. Opposition members: Tell us where. Mr Maher: I have heard the Minister of Health (Miss Howard) say she could Ret it anywhere at any time in Christchurch. Mr Maher said that the people of the country had made a great sacrifice in submitting to rationing to allow the folk in the Mother Country to have a ration of butter but according to newspaper reports the position there was improving. Mrs G. H. Ross (Nat. Hamilton), said that while the people in the United Kingdom needed butter it was right that we should make some attempt to help them. It was a fact that mothers with children going to cchool did have difficulty in making the butter ration go far enough. It. was a fact too, that there were children in the country who had never tasted cream. It was, however, difficult to convince people that butter rationing was necessary when they read that in places like Colombo, New Zealand butter was selling on the market. Mr J. N. Massey (Nat. Franklin) described the Aid to Britain Campaign as “words, still more words and no action,’’ and the Government had not faced/ up to the reality. Mr W. T. Anderton (Govt. Auckland Central): “Don’t you think we should aid Britain? Mr Massey: One hundred per cent., but stop all this talking and let’s get to action. He asked what was the butterfat content in ice cream today compared with two or three years ago and what were the quantities consumed in the respective periods? How much dried or whole milk had been manufactured in recent years and did the Minister know that the consumption of milk products was much higher to-day than it had ever been before?

“All the people have to do if they want cream is to buy milk,” said Mr Massey. He said that consumption of butterfat to-day, compared with three years ago, was infinitely higher. It was only lip service and nothing else that had been paid to the Aid to Britain Campaign. The consumption of condensed milk had increased and of cheese. The situation was simply absurd.