SUGAR FOR JAM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 27 November 1942, Page 4

SUGAR FOR JAM

LARGER ALLOWANCE WANTED RESOLUTION BY FARMERS’ UNION A greater allowance of sugar for the short season of jam-making is wanted by members of the North Canterbury district executive of the Farmers’ Union, which (says "The Press”) decided to bring (he question before the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). The executive also decided to ask the Minister what stocks of sugar were available in New Zealand for the coming year, and what supplies were likely to reach the country The president (Mr R G. Bishop) said that sugar and tea rations were now available to farm workers as well as office workers. The farmer could obtain sugar for himself and any of his family over the age of 14. but no sugar was available for tlie farmer’s wife, who did all the qpoking and worked the longest hours. Mr H. C. Wild said he understood that sugar was not available to a farmer’s wife and children over 14 unless they were fully engaged in farming. A letter was read from the Oxford branch which referred to the necessity for a much enlarged allowance of sugar for jam making and fruit preserving. In most homes in the country jam was an essential domestic commodity. It entered very largely into the diet of children, and a large demand was made on it where lunches had to be cut. It was a most desirable item in cut lunches whether for children or for adults The extra allowance of 3lb of sugar for December was of little use for jam at this season when all fruits were coming in. What would be the use of producing fruit if it could not be utilised. Mr A. M. Carpenter said the matter was being taken up by the Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union and the Women's Institutes, which had had a campaign among the different branches and sent letters to their headquarters. Mr R. T. McMillan said he did not wish to raise the issue of town and country, but the difficulty was that in the country many homes had to provide meals and sweetstuffs for casual workers during harvest time. Farmers’ wives should be entitled to a slightly bigger ration at harvest time. Mr I. L. M. Coop suggested that the Minister of Supply should be asked to make public the stocks of sugar in the country, and what he was expecting in tlie future. If the executive knew that, it could be more helpful than critical.