MEAT RATIONING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24869, 15 April 1944, Page 6

MEAT RATIONING

AMOUNT OF SATING TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE ( P„A.) WELLINGTON. Friday "The people of this country can rest assured that the saving we set out to make in meat for Great Britain will be achieved," stated the Minister of Supply and Munitions, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, .to-day. "Meat rationing was not introduced in New Zealand merely as a token gesture, and the scheme will be administered and altered it' necessary to ensure that the projected saving is effected." , . Referring to a report from Christchurch, the Minister stated that the suggestion that every abattoir in New Zealand had killed as much, if not more, meat since rationing than before was not correct. Information collected by the Rationing Controller indicated that, except in the Auckland district, where killings had been high, the general trend was a decrease in abattoir killings of from 10 to 15 per cent. While this reduction was not the ultimate object of the scheme, it, nevertheless, was not unsatisfactory in the initial stages. Furthermore, it must be remembered that there was the normally heavy increase in killings at this time of year on account of increased consumption with the approach of colder weather, and also because the general practice of the trade was to kill for cool storage for winter and spring requirements. Figures of killings at. abattoirs must, therefore, be treated with caution. "The number of beasts slaughtered is no guide to the poundage of meat consumed," said the Minister, "under rationing, it is obvious from many oi the abattoir returns that butchers are purchasing lighter-weight beasts than before, ft would appear from such returns that the actual weight of meat slaughtered since the commencement of rationing shows a saving in consumption greater than that indicated above 1 that is, 10 to 15 per cent —and proves conclusively that carcase returns of killings by themselves do not present a true picture of consumption. "ft is far too early yet," added the Minister, "to attempt to judge the effectiveness or otherwise of the rationing scheme, or make any major adjustment to the system, which has to be properly tightened up. Meat is the most difficult of all products to ration. This has been proved by the experience of Great Britain and the United States, as well as Australia.''