EXTRA BUTTER RATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 271, 16 November 1945, Page 8

EXTRA BUTTER RATION

REQUEST ON BEHALF OF MANUAL WORKERS

(P.A.) ' Parliament Bldgs, Nov. \4. In the House of Representatives to-day, Mr. G. F. Sim (Opp., Rotorua) gave notice to ask the Minister of Supply whether he would consider an extension to all workers doing heavy manual work, who regularly took a cut lunch, the same extra butter ration privilege as that granted the New Zealand Workers’ Union. Mr. Sim said that it had been reported that men residing near Tirau and employed on local nigh ways receive an extra half pound of butter, monthly. Their ration permits bore a rubber stamp impression reading “P.W. New Zealand Workers’ Union, W. T. Shilton, secretary, Auckland Branch.” Similar privileges had been refused by the rationing controller to local body employees working under the same conditions. It also had been stated that a union organiser toured the country with a wad of blank forms which he filled in on the spot. The Minister, Mr. Sullivan, replying, said a rule had been laid down for the guidance of rationing officers that the extra ration could be provided where workers were required to take two cut meals daily. There was no hit and miss principle about it, and as far as he knew, there had been no complaints since that rule was introduced. With regard to the latter part of the question, concerning union representatives carrying blank forms with them, Mr. Sullivan said he had heard so many rumours of that kind that he would like to see evidence before making any comment.