BUTTER RATIONING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 29 September 1943, Page 4

BUTTER RATIONING

SUPPORT BY NORTHERN DAIRY COMPANIES Auckland, Sept. 28. Support for the rationing of butter in New Zealand with the object of making larger supplies available for the British people has been expressed by dairy companies in North Auckland, stated Mr E G. Appleton, chairman of the Northern Wairoa Dairy Company and chairman of the Northern Dairy Association Executive. He said he believed the people of the Dominion would be pleased to make the necessary sacrifice under rationing in order to maintain for the British people the small ration of two ounces a head weekly. He recalled that at the conference of the National Dairy Federation at Palmerston North in June last, the Minister of Agriculture. Mr Barclay, had been asked wlrether rationing was likely to be introduced. He had replied that the Government had discussed the matter and called on the Health Department and others for reports, presumably as to the effect of any rationing on the health of the people. A similar question had been put to the Minister when he spoke at Whangarei recently in the election campaign. He had replied that the British Government had asked for increased supplies of butter from New Zealand, the total quantity first mentioned being 120.000 tons this season, and later 11 tons was named as the amount. The Minister said the British Government had also mentioned the question of rationing in New Zealand. On the other hand, continued Mr Appleton, he I.ad noticed from last Saturday’s newspaners that the Minister of Supply. Mr Sullivan, had stated that the Government had not received any request fro n the British Government for rationing in the Dominion. “I think the people are entitled to know the true position, and if any, request has been made by Britain they should be told,” he said. At the annual meeting of his dairy company in July last a resolution was passed urging the Government to make every endeavour to supply the quantity of butter asked for by Britain, even if this necessitated rationing here. As chairman of the Northland association lie had caused the resolution to be circulated among member companies. The replies received, with one exception, were unanimously in favour of the terms o' tie resolution. Mr Appleton said he understood both meat and butter were rationed in the United States and Australia. He believed that if Given the onportnnitv the people of Zealand would not knowingly lag behind the peoples of these countries !”• eontributing to the common cause.—