The Bay of Plenty Beacom Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, FEB. 18, 1944 MEAT RATIONING NEXT MONTH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 50, 18 February 1944, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacom Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, FEB. 18, 1944 MEAT RATIONING NEXT MONTH

WITH the commencement of meat rationing on March (>th New Zealand will be on a common footing with the rest of the Empire. Outlining the: latest measure of war control over foodstuffs the Minister of Supply (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) states that each consumer will be entitled to Is 9d worth of meat per week, and this will be applied to mutton, beef, veal, lamb and pork. The: sum of Is 9d will entitle each person to approximately two and a half pounds per week. Under the rationing system, each person will be entitled to a basic r.ation of Is 9d worth of meat a week with a half-ration for children under five years of age, but with no ration for babies under six months of age. This will mean a reduction of about a third in the amount of meat normally consumed in New Zealand. The reason given for the new rationing is because more meat must be sent to Britain. The Minister states further: We are equal partners with Britain in this war, and we must do our part.) The people of Britain depend on us for a very large part of their meat supplies and just as they share with us the things they produce, so we must share with the food we produce so abundantly. Knowing how short they are of food, we cannot possibly take up the attitude that because we produce meat we must be allowed to eat our fill and send them merely what is left over. That would be selfishness, and if we were guilty of it we should have reason to be ashamed of ourselves. It is claimed that the health of New Zealanders will not suffer under meat rationing-as full consideration was given to the health aspect of * e nation when determining the quantity of meat to be peimitted to each person. The Health Department was consulted and the 2J-lb. ration is its recommendation based on New Zealand's climatic conditions. Very likely, it is claimed, many New Zealanders will benefit through reducing the amount of meat they consume, though of course some will require additional meat on medical grounds This they will be able to do on presentation of a medicab certificate. Provision has also been made for some workers in heavy industries to receive a larger quantity over an above the ration. The new rationing scheme is not considered drastic in any way and in view of the compara lve lightness of the New Zealanders suffering as a result of the war to date its implementation should not give rise to any undue criticism or condemnation.