RESULTS OF BUTTER RATIONING

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 202, 24 May 1944, Page 6

RESULTS OF BUTTER RATIONING

Last week the Minister of Supply released some interesting figures relating to the effects of the rationing of butter in the Dominion. Domestic consumption is stated to have been, reduced substantially, enabling more dairy produce to be made available for shipmentt to Great Britain. That represents the consumers contribution to a national effort. It would be cheering to think that the quantity thus saved meant an increase on the shipments of ’ the previotw but foi reasons frequently stated and to a large extent beyon However anvone to control, production has fallen considerably. Howcvei, the savings effected by reducing the amount of butter consumed within the Dominion have been of material assistance in preventing the full effects of any drop in production from being felt by the people o Great Britain. Without local rationing our shipments of buttei vould have shown a morq, marked decline. That is the immediate benefit which the scheme has ensured. . . the In the three months prior to the introd « ct !T2(^ 1K " hitter average monthly domestic consumption was 6,416,0001 b. Over the first four months in which the su of b’ltter average fell to 4,086,0001 b., so in this way about 2,330,0001 b. ot buttei was made available monthly for export purposes. T hat to off-set to some extent the decline in total output., and clearl J ’ was well worth doing. There was no other way by which the> lowered production could be prevented from becoming a more serious menace fo the food suppliesof the people of the United Kingdom, and cannot be said that rationing has imposed any real hardship on the PeoP ßu°t f the e pt?bHcatSn of the figures, and as the Minister stated “the effectiveness of the rationing of butter which they ilhis trate ’themselves justify the criticism levelled at the Government for ffs prolonged delay before taking action. ’The urgent request from the British authorities was received either late in Aprril oi eary Mav of last vear. It was in May 1943 that the then . • Agriculture disclosed the fact that the request had been made If the Dominion had acted at that time, or, as soon as tl£ P ais ™ jld b j devised— as W as done in Australia—then these substantial addit.ona quantities would have become available three or the saved for shipment to Great Britain. Ihe figu . wh-it rationing has enabled the country to achieve in its ett.oit to St the people in the Mother Country, but they have . also made it'clear what the dilatory policy of the Government mean m the uo - diversion of supplies that, with the ready consei o the people the Dominion, could have been shipped to meet an mgent