FOOD FOR BRITAIN

Chronicle (Levin), 14 March 1946, Page 7

FOOD FOR BRITAIN

-Press Association

VOLUNTARY SURRENDER OF COUPONS NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

By Telegrciph-

WELLINGTON, lViarch 13. A nationai ■ampaign for the voiuntary surrender of eoupons for rationed foodstull's and the complete elimination of waste, with a view to saving addi tional iood for Britain, Europe, India and Afrifca, is to be launched very soon. Thjs was annouiiced by the Prime iVLin ister in roply to a deputation from the Inter-Church Oouncil, representing alJ cJiurches of the Dominion vvhicli waiteti upon him.and otlier Ministers today. The deputation, with which the Red Cross -Society and the Fedcration oi Labour were also associated, had asked t'or furtlier rationing on a compulsory basis by reducing the existing ration.o£ butter and meat; also rationing at the source of unrationed "cornniodities, such as clieese, burley and fats. If the Government found it impossible to im pose compulsory rationing, the deputation asked for an assurance that e very coupon surrendered vvould mean an au dition to the food available for export. The Prime Minister gave tlus assurance. Before tlie deputation mado its repro.sentations, the Prime Minister said the matter to be raised by the deputation had been receiving considerabie atten tion, and the question of hclping in various ways had been gone into. Be welcouied the deputation, because if an elfort were to be made, it vvould require j the assistance of alJ sectious of the ■ commuoity, espccially those able tc. arouse the eonscience of the people. The Bishop of Wellington said tlu deputation asked that sometlung be done to nieet tiie inuuediate diHiculi situation in the coniing four mounu Thev of the churches felt it was rapully becoming a moral question that im j pinged 011 New Zealand life, preseni j and t'uture. The public were wanting a pronouucement that vvould mahe theni leel tliat New Zealand was taking its I part in nieeting this vital need. l'n deputation did not think the situation I'ould be met by the voluntary reslric tion of our own consuniption, but only by some niethod anaiagous to conscripi tion in vvar.

j The bishop said diniinished rations i vvould not mean diniinished health Rationing at the source sliould be adopt el, as with tobacco and choeolate. A reduction in the quota of clieese vvould do New Zealand 110 liarm. The amount of beer eonsuitied pre-vvar was 8.3 galIons per liead, but it was novv 1(5 gallons. There was an extraordinary gap betvveen those tvvo ligures. Oue wondered if, by rationing at the source, it vvould j not be possible for a large amount oi | burley to be madc available. The laek j of fats overseas was soinething thev in New Zealand couhl do sometliing to reiuedy. The ingredients of lard and soap eould be rationed at the source The Inter-Chnrcli CounciJ had aiso pass ed a furthcr resolution, which stated that the council undei'stood tliat tlie Govenimeiit, in addition to its initial gift of £1,000, 000 of food to Britain, vva.s ubout to launcli a (iam'paigir for thevoluntary lestricjtion and saving oi 1'oodstuffs. it urged the Government to assure the people that every coupou surrendered vvould mean an addition to the food available for export. On rejceiving this assurance, the rnter-Churcij j Oouncil vvould vvholeheartedly support ' tlie projected canipaign. The Prime Minister: I vvill give tliat assurance right novv. The bishop said tliat if the selieme were not nuule niaiidatory, it was Jioped anytiiing voluntary vvould be made as ell'ective as possible. Tlie president of the Fedcration of Labour (llon. A. MeLagau) said the iederation . associated itself with tlie; churches in asking the people of New! Zealand to save more for the people of! Britain.

Not Brouglit Expected Results. Tlie Minister of Fiiiance said Jie was salisiied Ihe voluntary surrender of eoupons had not brouglit the result it should have; yet he believed that, properly organiscd, it was oue of the best ways of getting results. He thouglit the voluntary niethod might well be tried for a niontli or so to see what could be olitained. Ile agreed with Mr. AleLagau tliat certain sectious of the cominunity vvould be badly all'ected if tlieir butter ratioiis were reduced. The iMinister of Health (Hon. A. H. Nnrdmoycr) said that for some timo tlie Health Departnient had been concerned about tlie health of the people, particularly children. Home otlicers of ' the dc]>urtmcut were of the opinion tliat there was novv more malnutrition. Tlie Govenimeiit actually liad been conteniplating an increase in the ration of butter from six to cight ounces, but when the food crisis developed, that was not possible. Apart from the re- ' sults achicved, it would be bettor for the people to give up soinething volun- ; tarily than to be compelled to do it by \ Governmen decree. The best results - could be achicved by a voluntary sys-i lcni with the aid of a good publicity; canipaign. The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. P. j Fraser; said he understood the basis of' a voluntary canipaign had actually been j vvorked out, and it looked as if the I canipaign was so far advanced that it ' vvould be well to give it try. The Gov- ! einment would consider tlie question of! compulsory rationing when it saw the! effect of the voluntary system. Before the deputation retired, the bishop asked the Prime Minister if he had any objection to the churches. rousing the public in further compulsory rationing. Mr.. Fraser said he had no objection at all.