RATIONING OF BUTTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24631, 9 July 1943, Page 2

RATIONING OF BUTTER

It is several months since Government spokesmen first hinted at the possibility of butter being rationed in New Zealand. As nothing has been done about it, people naturally are beginning to ask whether these Ministers meant what they said, and, if they did, why they have gone no further than merely talking about it. The leader of the British Food Mission to Australia has just said the United Kingdom wants all the dairy produce New Zealand can provide. Thus any question of a fixed quantity for a given period has been swept away. Tf New Zealanders chose to deny themselves butter entirely Britain would be able and willing to take the whole output, and presumably to make arrangements for shipping it. This is represented as being necessary to maintain the present ration of two ounces a week. In [such a cause the community could I not in common decency, and would jnot, object to reducing its own consumption. All the people require is a firm assurance of the need, and to be freed of the suspicion with I which the rationing of some other

commodities is surrounded —bus- j picion of over-much interference with production and marketing. The community must also be persuaded that the Government is diverting all available manpower to the farms. Once convinced of these things, the people will be more likely to resent timidity in reducing the present average annual consumption of 42 pounds a head —almost 13 ounces a week—than to complain of being required to eat less butter. The position is easily summed up. If Britain's need is pressing enough to require more butter than the present surplus of output over domestic consumption, then the Government should act to reduce that consumption and no consideration, whether a pending election or anything else, ought to stand in the way of demanding some sacrifice I for the sake of Britain's steadfast and heroic people.