NEW ZEALAND BUTTER RATIONING HELPS BRITAIN FIRST

Grey River Argus, 14 October 1948, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER RATIONING HELPS BRITAIN FIRST

P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 13 Butter rationing in New Zealand was being continued for one reason only, to enable me people ox tiiu United Kingdom to retain then meagre ration ox three ounces weekly. xnis reply was given uy the Minister of industries and commerce, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer in the House of Representatives to-day answering an urgent question oy hi A. M. Finlay (Govt. North Shore). The latter asked the Minister lor a statement, in view of statements in the press and elsewhere, that butter raionmg was being continued for some purpose other than assisting Britain. Dr Finlay said it had been alleged that New Zealand was selling butter to Canada, and other countries and that the amount saved by internal rationing could be deducted from these exports, without reducing the amount available to the people of Britain.

Mr P. Kearins, (Govt. Waimarino): Better abolish rationing altogether. The Minister, in his reply, said that last year 130,000 tons of butter were exported to Britain, while in addition, and with the consent of the British Government, 1576 tons were exported to various countries, mainly British Crown Colonies. The estimated saving, through rationing in New Zealand is over 4000 tons annually. The British Ministry of Food had calculated that if butter and cream rationing were terminated in New Zealand and Australia, the present butter ration in Britain would have to be reduced to two and a-half ounces weekly.