WHICH FIRST: FOOD OR DOLLARS

Chronicle (Levin), 16 December 1947, Page 5

WHICH FIRST: FOOD OR DOLLARS

WELLINGTON, Dec. 15. A deeision ciilling for t li o wisdom of Solomon was represented in tho conllicting questions of oxporting New ZeaJutid Initler to North America, for dollars, or entirely to Britain, for humanity, said a statenient issued todav 1 »y tho Ncw Zcaland Watcrside Workers' rnion. In it, the national president of the. nrganisation f Mr. II. Barnesi and the national secrelary (.Mr. T. Ilill) referred to the Montreal report that Canada had deeided to import as mueh as l(i,i))(),)(>() pounds of New Zealand butter at 54 eents a ponnd, if Canadian luitter continned to rise in priee, and tliat "the New Zealand authorit ies " were ready to sliip liutter at any time. "There is a new idolatry, " continned the statenient. " It Ls the idolatry of the dollar. If dollars are the iniportant fact of life — and the people are being told that it is vital to save dollars, if not to earn theni — a sale of prodm-e to Canada would be an obvions meaiis of getting them. ' ' We live under tui econoinic system "wliieh demands selling on the higliesl inarket, and buving on the lowest. Britain is aentely short of dollars, and so is New Zealand. Consequent lv, the sale of New Zealainl produce on dollar niarkets wonld inerease dollars for New Zealand, and it eould be said that this would help Brilain's dollar position. ' ' A curious contradiction intrtides ltself, however. While Britain is on short comnions, and butter is rationed in New Zealand, the shipment of butter to a country which has aholished rationing would be extremely difficult to reconcile with the Aid to Britain prograinme, and especially the efforts of the New Zealand farmers to inerease supplies to Britain. "Should the sale be cffected, doubtless the Government wil! have a salis-ftu-tory explanation. Ilowever, an nnt horitatix e opinion regarding the apparent eonflii-t between dollars and hunianity would uow be a useful contriluition l'roni the Aid to Britain Xa1 ional 1 'ouneil. "New Zealand is concerned with helping Britain in the best possible way. If dollars are the most vital faetor in the alfairs of men, should not dollars.be gained ? If lniinanity is the worthy foree, should not all possible quantities of New Zealand produce go to Britain, despite dollars? This is a test for a Solomon. " The stafement said exeeutive officers of the Waterside Workers' Union •would i-nnsider the possible said of New Zealand bulter to Canada. It was recalled that jmblie o])inion was very inuck with the uninn when it objected to the diversion of New Zealand butter from needy Britain to the United States. It was then explained that the irau ai-tion was at the request of the British Government, and that the Cniti'd States would supply Britain with an equivalent amouut of fats. Aceordinglv, the union loaded the shipment, luit it had considerable reser- | valions, said the statenient. If the I'nited States had a surplus of fats, the uiiiou thought, Britain enubl well have received them, as well as the New Zealand butter.