AMERICAN REQUEST FOR BUTTER

Chronicle (Levin), 29 June 1946, Page 2

AMERICAN REQUEST FOR BUTTER

-Press Association

By Telearaph-

WELLINGTON, Junc 28. Early last month tiro QuartonnasterGeneral of tlie I'nited States army approached ihe New Zoaland Minister in "Washingtun (Sir Carl Berendsen) with a request tliat New Zealand should supply not more than 10,000.0001 b. of butter, all to jjc used for feeding the United.. States anned forces in thc Paciiic, said tlie Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) in a stateinent in tlie ILousc of Representatives before tbe adjournmeut last aight. Mr. Fraser said thc request put thc Government in grave dillieulty bccause " we are already doing out utmost by t ineroasiug production 'and limiting con-! siimption to assist Britain to niaintain! lier supply of fats of which shc is in diro need." The- request had been the 1 subjecl of a c'dnsiderublc exchange of! cablos, and linally the United Iviiigdom Gqverninent did sav it would agree tor New Zealand meeting tlie United States! request on condition that the equiva-j lent amount of some fat, such as cheese, ' avos made available from the United, States to Britain. The arrangement J accordingly had been made on this' basis. "It was oue of the most diflicult' rcquests Avhich lias e'ver been made to | thc Government, owing to the endeavours New -Zealand ers were already making to provide every possible ouuce! for their kinsfolk in Britain," added Mr. Fraser. llowever, the American troops had also to. be fcd. The arrange- 1 ment \yas made only with thc approval of the British Government. The first: sliipment would go from Auckland toj San Fraucisco. 7 J Answering a question bv thc Leadcr of the- Opposition (Mr. llolland), whq asked if New Zealand would receive the; same price as Britain would have to j pay to the -United States. Mr. Fraser ; said that he was npt ceftain if the details of price arrangement had yet been made. However, the transaction 'was delinitely not an exteusion of LendLease and more information on the price arrangement cQuld- be given ats a later date, , ' _ _