TONS OF MEAT SAVED

Chronicle (Levin), 13 June 1946, Page 5

TONS OF MEAT SAVED

:P%&s[s 4sjjdciait$n

EVIDENCE AT PROSECUTION OF BUTCHERS

By-''felegrtipJi£-

WELLINGTON, June 12. Figures to sliow liow much the nieat rationing system liad reduced con sumption, were quoted by Mr. Neil Lawson Douglas, ollicer in charge of the mcat section of the Food Control Office, in the JMagistrate's Court, Wellington, today, while giving evidence in the continued hearing of alleged rationing breaclies brought against Thomas IIow ard Jarvis, butcher. Witness said the butchers had not recently proposed anv change in the system. Jarvis is answering six charges of making misleading statenients in a re tuni for autliority to aequire meat, one of supplying rationed goods to an in spector without sufficient coupons being tendered and one of breaking a price ordei;. The statenients alleged to be misleading concerned the proc.uring of meat that might be used in the manufaeturing of small goods. Mr. iStiJwell, tS.AL, presided and the hearing vvas adjourned till June 24. Mr. Douglas said in the rationing of ineat, the 12 months ended March 31, 11)44, were regarded as the basic year. Iti tliat year 12,938 tons of meat were used in the Wellington distriet. In tlie following 12 months 10,955 tons were used, a clec.rease of 1973 tons in the first year of rationing. In the year ended March, 194(5, the consumption was 10,797 tons whieh was 2131 tons less than in the basic year so that 4104 tons had been withdrawn from consumption by rationing. To illustrate the Dominion position witness said that according to the Year Book, 2421bs. of meat was consumed per head per year between 193S and 1941. Records of the Food Control Office shovved the approxiinate consumption in the year ended March 31, 194G, was 1721bs. a head so that meat equal to a third of the Dominion 's former consumption had been withdraAvn from consumption. Using average Veights, about 20,000 tons had been withdrawn in the year ended March, 1945, and 26.000 tons in the following year.