MARGARINE THREAT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 69, 3 May 1946, Page 4

MARGARINE THREAT

DAIRY BOARD’S CONCERN RECENT LICENSE OPPOSED “Butter rationing in New Zealand lias brought in its train a whole series of products that have dangers for our industry if their use is encouraged,” said Mr A. Linton, Acting-Chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, at the Ward Conference at Wha-

katane last Wednesday. “In' the first instance there are the so-called butter spreads and the butter extenders, composed of mixtures of vegetable fats etc. with which it is claimed half a pound of butter can be turned into a pound to a pound and a half. The use of these products has grown tremendously during the last twelve months, and today the great majority of restaurants in the cities adulterate their butter ration in this manner. When rationing is over, it may be assumed I think th&t many oi these restaurants will continue using these extenders, with a view to cheapening their costs. Use of Vegetable Fats

“The use of vegetable fat for cooking, and of cooking margarine has also been very greatly extended here during the war years. The Board views seriously the inroads that margarine has made into what was formerly the butter demand, and believes that it will have to take firm steps when the emergency is over, to see that butter gets fair play. Recently the Minister of Agriculture granted a license to a margarine factory in Auckland to extend its premises. The firm claimed that it had a greater demand for products than the existing plant could supply.”

Shortage Only Temporary

The Board strongly opposed the granting of the license for extension, believing that the present situation was temporary only, and that the quantities of fats available here in the normay way were sufficient with out allowing special advantages to margarine because of the sacrifices we were making to provide more butter for Britain. All over the world at different times and in different degrees, margarine had menaced butter. We had been relatively well off in this regard in New Zealand in earlier years. He was not so sure that we would be so free in the future, and thought we might have to fight hard to see that butter regained its popularity for cooking in the future.