HOW RATIONING BENEFITS BRITAIN

Chronicle (Levin), 30 August 1946, Page 2

HOW RATIONING BENEFITS BRITAIN

FIGURES SETTLE ANY DOUBTS By Telecjrwph—Press Association WELLINGTON, Augiist 29. ' ' Nearly 17,000 tons more meat have been exported froni New Zealand in ten months of thc present seasoh corapared with the same pcriod last season, ' ' said the cliairman of the New Zealaiid Famine Emergencv Committee, Mr, T. N. Bmallwood, tonight. "This rihould settle uny doubts that the United Kingdota is getting thc benefit of the Dominioxl's drivo for inereased production and of the saving made by rationin^-" • . Under the ratiomng scheme New Zealand had made available for Britain an extra 30,000 tons of butter and an extra 50,000 tons of meat, hc said. Figures 3upplied by the Marketing Dopurtment showed that meat exported this seaaon totalled 258,303 tons eompared with 211,110 tons during the ten months to July 31, 1945. This, reprpsented a subs tautini gain to the United Kingdom and for this season that rountry was the destination- of almost all Ncw Zealand 's oxport of meat, wliercas last season large supplies went to ihe United Htates Joint Purchasing Board and to the New Zealand Forces overseas. The butter position had been affected by thr.ee months of drought in the" Auckland l'rovince and because of this the gradings -fell by 20,979 tons of 17 per ee.nt. The actual exports, however, fell bv only 11,113 tons or 8£ per cent. Thus, prop'ortionate to the gradings, tlic LHnninion exported to Ihe United Kingdom in the 1945-46 season 9861 tons morc than in tlie preceding season. The decline in chcese gradings was 7363 tons or S per cent. Export ligures, .however, fell by only 2809 tons or 3 per cent. In relation ^o the reduced grading 4554 tons more cheese was exported. i\lr. Bmallwood said the tremendously important. part-N'ew Zealand played as a suppiier.of food to Britain, eould be nppreeiated when her food exports were give.n in Lenns of rations. New Zeaiand's meat provided a year's rations for 12,000,000 people butter a year's rations for 24,000,000 people and cheese a year's rations for 26,000,000 people.