"MACON" A LUXURY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23619, 1 April 1940, Page 5

"MACON" A LUXURY

NO LONGER NECESSARY ; CURED MUTTON EXPEHIMENT ABANDONMENT IN ENGLAND [from our own correspondent] LONDON, March S "Macon,''" or cured mutton, which was introduced to housewives as a stibstituto for bacon last November, has in five in. Mth.s become an almost unobtainable luxury. Mutton has been scarce for a fortnight, the price has gone up. and it, will ho rationed with other meats on March 11. "Macon," therefore, is nqt a practical proposition at tho moment. The Government has decided to drop indefinitely plans to cure any more mutton. Mutton, they think, is of more use as fre ill meat. . A Ministry of Food official'said: "The Ministry lad only one euro made, although I believe some private firms also commenced curing mutton in the hope that 'macon' would catch on with the public. I do not think thero is really any demand for 'macon.' There may be l few people going after it just beca ise it is something new, but, unless on:.' has acquired.a taste for it, i think most people prefer their usual, breakfast dish of bacon. "Supplies of bacon and ham are now quite pli ntifuL That may be due in some decree to people not taking their full rations, but there are other reasons. The Government made some pretty big contracts —that with Canada, for example—to guard against a short: ge in deliveries from normal sources. Tho latter, however, liavo conic in much better than it was feared they might, and there are ample supplies available. There is, therefore, .no need io continue the curing of 'macon.' 1 . "The decision is not due to any real shortage in. supplies of mutton, for, while home-killed nusy have been- 'n shorter supply in recent weeks, there has been plenty of 'imported.' " Wliciil the House of Commons held its secret session sandwiches of "macon" were provided among the refreshments for M. .Vs.