RATIONING IN BRITAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20084, 2 November 1939, Page 4

RATIONING IN BRITAIN

BACON AND BUTTER NO SERIOUS SHORTAGE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. noon. RUGBY, Nov. 1. The Minister of Food, Mr. W. S. Morrison, in the House of Commons, i stated that bacon and butter rationing j from the middle of December prob- : ably would allow 4oz each a week per individual. Ration books were being issued and customers were requested to register with the retailer of their own choice. Mr. Morrison added that it was not necessary to ration meat and sugar as ; supplies were sufficient for normal reiquirements. Pie emphasised the imIportance of avoiding food wastage. The 4oz. ration would depend on the continuance of the present rate of j supply. Bacon and butter were | perishable and could not be stored. ; Therefore, no reserve existed at the (outbreak of war. Supplies were ex'pected to increase, but imports from Europe had been reduced and there I was insufficient time to fill the gap ■ from more distant sources. The | amount of rationing would depend on the supply from time to time. I Mr. Morrison reviewed the position iof several other commodities. In the lease of sugar, supplies in sight, both jhome produced and imported, were I sufficient for normal requirements I His conclusion was that there was no need at present to impose rationing I for any commodity other than bacon and butter.

The manufacture of margarine had oeen greatly increased since the out break of war. The quantity of cooking fats available was equal to normal.

In the case of meat, for which Britain was dependent upon imports for about one-half of its requirements, adequate supplies should continue to be available. During the last few weeks there had been some reduction in the volume of imported supplies available in certain districts. This had been clue to additional allooations lo the fighting services, coupled with the inevitable delay in the arrival of meat ships while the convoying of merchant shipping was being organised. The supplies in sight, however, for the future —home produced and imported—were ample to meet all reasonable requirements both of the services and the civilian population. Meat rationing was, therefore, not considered necessary at present.