Grocers And Butter Rationing

Chronicle (Levin), 24 August 1949, Page 7

Grocers And Butter Rationing

«•- — ' INVERCARGILL, Au'gust 23. ' ' The present system of buttei 5 rationing has made grocers the only people in New Zealand who are expected to do something for the Governmeut for nothing," said the pre'sident of the Southland Master Grocers' Assoeiation, Mr N. Poole, while1 eommenting -on Mr F. P. Walsh's statement' against suggested derationing • o'f but'te'fi '"Wli'ether or not butter rationing sKould cease is a hard question for the ih'dividual, even the groeer, 'to decide, he : continued. However, as a matter -of c'o'nvenience to the public, grocers would like to see butter off the ration • Iist. Under the present system grocers are forced continually to annoy customers with demands for eoupons. "We haVe to risk antagonising people foV something from which we get no return," he added. Other grocers said the abolition of butter rationing would meau an increase in trade. The housewife would again bake and the commodities used in baking would be sold on a larger scale. The grocers were unanimous in the opinion that there was no butter black market of any size operating in Southland. Mjj Poole pointed out that under the coupon system at present enforeed, retailers had to account for every half pound of butter they sold. The wartime system of registration occasionally left the grocer with a few extra pounds of butter on his hands which he could sell to needy cases or steady customers but this was not possible under the present coupon system. Mr Poole considered that separator butter woahl be very hard to find in Invercargill. Ai far as he knew, farmers had' ceased bringing it into the city. "Grocers are at present. given no margin for butter that might turn raneid 011 their hands," he said. "There is no gap for extra supplies at all."