Labour Rationing Motion Defeated

Northern Advocate, 10 November 1939, Page 6

Labour Rationing Motion Defeated

LONDON, November 9. ; The Minister for Food (Mr W. S. Morrison), in the House of Commons, opposed a Labour demand for the immediate introduction of comprehensive rationing. He said it would not be necessary until it was actually required. ' He estimated that the largest quantity of butter that could be accumulated in a year was 20,000 tons, which iyas two weeks’ normal supply. He denied charges of muddling. * Sir George Schuster (Liberal — • Walsall) said, the sudden rise in • price of New Zealand butter to : 145/- a cwt was not justified. He * had not been able to ascertaih ' whether New Zealand was getting ! the benefit of it. ' The Lord Privy Seal (Sir Samuel Hoare) said Germany would never starve out Britain. ■ Therefore, the Government had decided not to impose full rationing immediately. i “Our position is immensely stronger than that of Germany,” said the Minister. i “I claim that we shall continue to secure food and raw materials, in spite of the new U-boats being constructed by Germany, although there may be some dislocation and delay.” .v The Labour motion demanding immediate rationing was defeated by 187 yotes to 104.