EXTRA RATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26629, 27 November 1947, Page 4

EXTRA RATIONS

It is not surprising that the Minister of Supply is embarrassed —as he obviously is—at the criticism which has appeared in our columns of his announcement that extra rations for Christmas will be available in this country. It is, however, somewhat surprising that so subtle a politician as Mr Nordmeyer should have no better reply to the criticism than that which we printed in our issue of yesterday. Without traversing the Minister’s statement in detail, it can be said fairly that his argument is that since an extra butter allowance was made at the Christmas season during the war years, there is no reason why it should be discontinued now; and in any case, as he petulantly adds, if anybody doesn’t want the extra ration he need not take it, and his share will then be available for export. This sort of sophistry scarcely requires an answer. The truth is that if the world is not now hungrier than in the war years it is at least as hungry, and needs which were irremediable then can be met now, provided the nations which have food in plenty will disgorge some of it; while the plight of the British people is, through harsh economic circumstances, much worse than in the war period when food was being obtained from dollar sources upon which the United Kingdom can no longer afford to draw. Add to that the fact that the Government in New Zealand is spending thousands of pounds in exhorting the people of New Zealand to make sacrifices in order to assist Great Britain, and the Minister’s defence of a Christmas bonus ration which directly deprives the British people of greatly-needed essential foodstuffs falls shamefully to the ground. In this matter the Government has been gravely in error. The error is probably a thoughtless and honest one—for it would be distasteful to believe that it makes so hypocritical a distinction between precept and practice as is implied in this Christmastide gesture. Then the Government should admit that it erred in good faith, out of a sentimental seasonal concern for the Christmas cakes and tender roasts of the New Zealanders, and it should cancel this proposal for extra rations. The people of this country cannot, with a clear conscience, indulge themselves with additional choice tid-bits this Christmas while, as the chairman of the local Aid to Britain Committee, Mr Burgess, pointed out in our columns on. Tuesday, not only are the British people in need, but hunger strides through Europe and Asia. The contribution which New Zealand should make to the world’s needy people at Christmas time should be more, not less, than it makes throughout the rest of the year. This country, rich in fats, could, as Mr Wight suggested in the

Daily Times yesterday, get along very pleasantly on less butter than the present allowance. Little enough has been achieved so far, or even seriously attempted, in implementing those sacrifices for the human good that have been so eloquently besought by the Prime Minster, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Aid to Britain Council. The Government’s untimely proposal offers an opportunity to New Zealanders to demonstrate their willingness to share in some small measure the deprivations that have been forced on millions of unhappy fellow beings. If the Government will not give the lead, it can perhaps come through the Aid to Britain committees, supported by all people of goodwill.