MORE CRITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26628, 26 November 1947, Page 4

MORE CRITICS

INCREASE UNWARRANTED PRACTICAL MEASURES URGED Support for the views of the chairman of the Aid to Britain Committee, Mr R. C. Burgess, who. criticised the granting of extra rations at Christmas, was expressed yesterday in several quarters. , ... Mr Burgess had been mild in his criticism of the Government’s action, said the secretary of the South Island Dairy Association, Mr W. G. Wight. “I think it is an outrageous proposal, having regard to the serious plight of the people of Britain and the many other 1 millions on the European continent,” Mr Wight added. “ The total production of butter for export in the Dominion last season was approximately 126,700 tons. It is estimated that, under the present rationing scheme, local consumption is about 21,000 tons a year. On that basis, the extra half-pound which it is proposed to hand out in order to serve a party political purpose will amount to about 540 tons. Reduced Ration Favoured “ If the Government would only face up to the reality, of the situation and act without fear or favour,” said Mr Wight, “it is my, opinion that the present ration of six ounces a week should be reduced to four ounces. On a conservative estimate that would release an additional 7000 tons a year for export, which would be a considerable help to our kinsfolk in Britain. With the abundance of other foods of all kinds which . are available in this country, the only effect a smaller butter ration might have on us would be to reduce our girth to a slight extent, which, from a health point of view, would be for our good.” _ . „ “ Christmas is the season for giving, commented Mrs J. Sutherland Ross, president of the Women's Committee of the Dunedin branch of the Navy League. “We are trying to send as much food Home as possible, and extra rations for New Zealanders at Christmas cannot be justified.” An Opportunity

Mr Philip Bai’ling, who has organised his own scheme for sending fat in bulk to Britain, said he thought this was the opportunity for New Zealand to show its goodwill towards Britain. “Food given voluntarily at this critical time would mean much more than the material benefits,” he said. “It would show that our sympathy is takingpractical form.” Women have approached the president of the Dunedin branch of the National Council of Women. Mrs W. K. Cameron, asking her to initiate a move to have the epctra ration cancelled. Mrs Cameron, vsio is also chairman of the Women’s Sub-committee of the Aid to Britain Committee, said yesterday that while she was not in a position to make a statement on the views of either of the organisations which she represented, she personally deplored the decision to allow additional rations The Aid to Britain Committee, she added, had been working' hard to conserve food and to bring home to the public the desperate position of the British people. The decision to allow extra rations at Christmas had the effect of nullifying, with a stroke of the pen, a great deal of the work which had already been accomplished.