NEW ZEALAND IN THE CRISIS.

Mt Benger Mail, 9 November 1938, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND IN THE CRISIS.

BRITISH BUTTER CONSUMPTION DECLINES. M.P.’s CONCERN FOE NATIONAL HEALTH.

(From a Special Correspondent —By

Air Mail.)

LONDON, Oct. C

During the period of international tension which preceded the Munich agreement news of the crisis and preparations for defence almost entirely monopolised the columns of Great Britain’s newspapers. New Zealand, However, was very much in the news on account of expressions of loyalty by her statesmen and promises to support Britain if war should be declared. Hero is how British people learned of New Zealand’s attitude: —

“New Zealand Will Fight’’ Daily Mirror.

“If Britain Went to War Now Zealand Would Support Her”—Glasgow Herald.

“New Zealand Will do Her Share’’ —Manchester Evening Chronicle. “New Zealand Offers Help’’—News Chronicle.

“New Zealand Will Make Arms Steel” —Daily Express. “New Zealand Will Be There” Evening Standard. “Now Zealand to Make Steel for Munitions” —Birmingham Post. “New Zealand Supports Britain”— Daily Mail.

The loyalty of Now Zealand has never been called in question, and when the threat of war loomed large New Zealanders in Great Britain lived up to the best traditions of their country. In the short space of a few days the High Commissioner was inundated with offers of service from New Zealanders of all ages. More than 200 young, men and ox-servicemcnt of all ranks —from colonels to privates placed their names on a list of those wishing to join the Dominion forces. Doctors and nurses offered their services unreservedly to the Government, while elderly pcoplo„who could take no active part in a war wished to place their cars at New Zealand’s disposal if war should be declared. Officials at New Zealand House believe that if an appeal had been made by the High Commissioner at least 700 offers of assistance would have been forthcoming.

West Fulham M.P., Dr Edith Suramerskill, has entered the lists in defence of New Zealand’s Social Security Bill. In a letter widely reproduced throughout the Press of the United Kingdom she made “a plea for tolerance in connection with the highly interesting social legislaton which has just been enacted in New Zealand.” Novelty, she declared, does not necessarily make legislation financially unsound, and she points to the fact that the pioneering social legislation of Richard John Seddon, since acclaimed as an example to the world, was anathema to the financial “Dismal Jimmies” of his day. Dr Summersldll speaks with double authority as a Harley Street specialist and an M.P. Her approval of what is being done for health services in this country where the view., is strongly held by many insurance doctors that the British National Health Insurance scheme should be revised in the direction of embracing people whose income is much higher than the present national health insurance limit.

If there is moral stimulus in imitation, New Zealand should derive much satisfaction from the fact that Republican Spain has decided to go the whole hog in adapting the Dominion’s scheme of Government marketing to Spanish products. An experimental Onions Export Board has worked so successfully that the scheme is being extended to pepper, citrus fruits, oranges, grapes and other fruits. “The Now Zealand dairy marketing scheme provided us with our model,” frankly says Mr ■ Fernandez Shaw, Spanish Commercial Attache in London. The Government, it is stated, pays the farmer the fixed guaranteed price within 14 days of delivery. Says the Imperial Economic Committee in its annual report on dairy supplies (just published): — “Up to 1934 increasing butter consumption was accompanied by a decline in the consumption of margarine, but since that year margarine consumption has tendcjLto. increase as the consumption of butter declined. ’ ’

It adds information about prices which shows that margarine finds its opportunity for expansion in almost exact ratio to the rise in butter prices. Experts incline more and more to the view that stabilisation of butter prices at the true economic lovqj must precede any really big drive for increased consumption on nutritional, grounds. The actual ratios of butter sales to those of margarine in the years referred to were: 1930, 8 to 5; 1934, 16 to 5; 1937, 14 to 5. It takes a long time and a low price to recapture lost ground. Margarine interests arc making tremendous efforts by way of national advertising to consolidate their gains, basing their efforts on the claim that the new vitarainised margarine is as good as summer-produced butter and has the added consistency in vitamin-content.

On the other hand, Britain’s buttercampaigner No. 1, Mr William Leach, M.P. for Central Bradford, sees in the increased margarine consumption a

threat to national health. In a letter given wide Press publicity he compares New Zealand’s butter consumption of 411bs per head each year with the United Kigdom’s 24.81bs ' per head. Butter, ho holds, is essential in an improved dietary, and an improved dietary is essential for the success of any national fitness campaign. “A square meal," says Mr Loach, “is better than a horizontal bar.”