Time Arrived For Abolition Of Butter Rationing

Chronicle (Levin), 23 May 1949, Page 3

Time Arrived For Abolition Of Butter Rationing

* MASTERTON, May 21. "I think that the time has arrived when the Government should abolish the rationing of butter in New Zealand,' 7 said Mr. Linton (deputychairman of the New Zealand. Dairy Board) in an intervicw today. * 'And ■. in conjunction with the abpli-tion . of rationing, the subsidy 'froih the Consolidated Fund on the sale of. butter in New Zealand "should a'lso be disconlinued. ; . "The price* of butter Sold' locally," said Mr. Linton, "should be in line with its production cost, and if that were done butter would to some extent ration itself and there would be no need for a tcontinuance of official rationing. ; In;.my bpinion there =is an urgent need for a review of the whole positiojh.; • : : ; • JEogethpr with; ' New j£ea .- land 's iricie'jise ik' iprodiletion , bf btttter this Season there is every prospect of increased supplies to the United Kingdom from European countries, and a Jarge increase in milk production in England. "In these circumstances the people of New Zealand are entitled to consideration. They should, however, he asked to pay the true value of hutter — that is its cost of production. Wage standards in New Zealand have "been suhstantially increased and it is oh- • viously wrong for hutter to he sold considerahly helow its cost of production, with the taxpayer finding over £1,000,000 annually to keep the price at the present level.

PRIME MINISTER MISSES MR. LINTON 'S POINT WELLINGTON, May 22. "If Mr. Linton was correetly feported in his address to Federated Farmers at Masterton, he has ineurred a very grave responsibility in urging that the rationing of butter iu New Zealand should be abolished," said the ■ Prime Minister, Mr. Eraser, in a statement t'onight. "I hope he did hot advocate that course. If he has done so then he cannot be in possession of • the facts of the food situation in Britain. During my recent-brief visit to the United Kingdom I asked for oue appointment of great importanee. It . was with Mr. John Strachey, Minister of Food, and his chief officers. I felt it wa3 my responsibility to aseertain the actual position of the people of Britain in regard to butter and other food fats, so that,I could estimate the need for continuirig butter rationing here to help out their meagre food. Mr. Strachey explained to me that at present the butter ration was three ounees, margarine four ounces and other Eats two ounces — nine ounees in all. He said that he appreciated very highly the assistanee New Zealand is giving to the people of Britain through butter rationing here and .naturally hoped that it would be continued, particularly in view of the fact that the meat ration had. been so very mueh reduced. It is obvious that if rationing Were cancelled'.in New Zealand, it would be difficult to retain it in Australia and most probably also in Denmark. It has been estimated that if we abandoned rationing, Britain 's supplies would be cut by some 14,000 tons and similar possible action in Australia ■ would mean a loss to Britain of 40,000* tons. The past. season in New Zealand has been exeeptionally good for* butterfat production. Gradmgs for butter are already more than 12,000 tons greater than for the corresponding* period of the nine months .last year. It would be tragie if this bounteous season and the splendid efforts of the farmers resulted in less rather than more for the British people., That is what the abandonment of rationing would mean." , , ,.A V . .