Big Vote For Retention Of Butter Rationing

Chronicle (Levin), 25 May 1949, Page 5

Big Vote For Retention Of Butter Rationing

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WELLINGTON. Mav 24. There was no alternative but to re= '-ain the'present butter ratiou in New Zealafld, said the Minister of Tndus'trie and Commerce; Mr Nordmeyer, whe* •?peaking at the Labour^ Party confef •vnce. The confereiice reiected by a ^rge majority, a remit proposing that t-he rationing of butter and cream ■b> abolished. Mt Nordmeyer' said the maintenanco of the butter ration on the preseiil scale in New Zealand, provided 13,000 to 14,000 tons of butter which the people of Britain would not otherwise re ceive. There was no doubt that a. vefy considerable quantitv of butter Was saved through rationing. The Govern ment realised that the maintenanee of the 6oz ration would be a real hardship in homes where lunehes had to i>e cuL He pointed out, however, that in thUnited Kingdom the fat ration was 3oz butter, 4oz margarine, and 2oz of cook ing fat weekly. The fat position in Bri tain was the worst supply problem. Tht; supply of meat from the Argentine feeentiy had been curtailed and it was difficult for Britain to maintain the fa. ration. New Zealand had asked Britain t'o: its views should an increase from 6oz to Soz be made in the New Zealand ra tion and the British Government had pointed out in reply that if New Zea land took this action, it was almost eertain that Australia would do thp same. This would make the serious position ih Britain even more serious. The Government, said Mr Nordmeyer, was anxious to improve the presenl position but it believed, having regard to all the faets, that butter rationing must be retained. The conference committee was also strongly of the same opinion beeause the consequence of tluabandonment of the ration would be- a dlminution in the quantity available to Britain. As soon as it was possible to make a concession, the Government would be pleased to do so but in the meantime, said Mr Nordmeyer, he asked for an emphatic endorsement of the committee 's recommendation. Mr J. S. Berry, Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, moved an amendment that the ration be increased to 8oz Weekly. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, said he had discussed the matter with the British Minister of Food. He did not know of any thing which eotild hit Bri tain a harder blow than an increase in New Zealand 's butter ration. The but ter ration was a very small sacriflce to make on behalf of Britain, said Mr Fra ser. While they were not starving, the British people were not properly nourished. The British Government would feel driven to despair if (it could not gei all the butter New Zealand was send.ing now. "Britain''s Labonr Government is trying to feed the people. Don't fet us make the task impossible for them, ' ' concluded Mr Fraser. „Mr Nordmeyer quoted flgures of butter exports and said that if the New Zealand ration was inereased by 2oz, New Zealand would consume, an addi tional 5200 tons whieh was more than the amount which, under the plesent ag ceement with Britain, could go to other plaees than the United Kingdom.