“TO HIM THAT HATH..."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26628, 26 November 1947, Page 8

“TO HIM THAT HATH..."

Sir,—So the good, kind Mr Nordmeyer has decreed that the dear old taxpayer will be entitled to an extra allowance of butter for Christmas and, oh yes —lamb, too. How nice of him, and all this, too, after that nasty reverse in the local body “no confidence” vote! But what about the “ Food for Britain ” campaign so lavishly advertised? And has he overlooked the sterling funds affair and the possibly restricting effect on imports? I do like 'lamb for- Christmas, but will I get any more than last years for my depreciated currency? And I have been trying to save up to assist Mr Nordmeyer’s superannuation. Perhaps Mr Nordmeyer is only expressing his gratitude in his own peculiar manner. It is little public acts of kindess such as this that wins people’s hearts—l mean, votes.— I am, etc.. Jimmy.

Sir,—Regarding the extra Christmas allowance of butter, etc., under condemnation in your .morning issue, surely the obvious solution is: Let Mr Burgess and those others who conscientiously object to the concession fufil their privilege, and donate (heir extra ration overseas and allow those' who applaud the welcome relief from " scraping ” all the year to take advantage of it. Then everyone will be satisfied over here. “ What you haven't got you don’t miss ’’ surely cuts both ways.—l am, etc.. Doubting Thomas.

Sir,—Your editorial this morning about the increased rations for Christmas calls for comment. How many New Zealanders take rationing seriously? Take butter and sugar; rationing of these commodities is made farcical by the fact that cake and jam are not rationed. Every housewife knows that it was into cake and jam that most household sugar used to go. For the most part, therefore, the housewife who used to bake and preserve in her home now buys in a shop. As for butter, since dairy butter does not count for rationing and cows still will take no notice of the fact that cream cannot be sold, the farmer’s wife wno is not able to supply a creamery simply has to make butrer, and is she going to waste it or sell it? The dairy butter maker has coupons to give away, and who can stop her? It is the same with meat. Farm-killed meat cannot be counted or controlled. Butchers in rural areas can get any number of coupons. In the towns meat rationing is very serious to small households, but just a nuisance to large households. Housewives all know these things. What I cannot understand is why they do not cry aloud to stop the silly business. The New Zealand housewife tries to make up for all this blundering by sending food parcels. We are all doing it, and what a waste of time it is, sending little bits, and pieces when the country should send in bulk! So, sir, instead of .lamenting about the extra Christmas ration, could you not exert your influence to get a more common-sense approach to the whole problem?—l am. etc.. Anti-Humbug. [Abridged.—Ed., O.D.T.]