AUSTERITY CHRISTMAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26631, 29 November 1947, Page 7

AUSTERITY CHRISTMAS

POSSIBILITY IN BRITAIN ANNOUNCEMENT OF EXTRA RATIONS AWAITED N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent LONDON, Nov. 27. Although an announcement by the Food Minister about extra rations for Christmas is still awaited, it is being taken for granted that this Christmas will be the most austere Britain has experienced. There may be a slight increase in the meat - ration during Christmas week, but it is expected to be in corned beef. Last year the ration was increased from Is 4d to 2s during Christmas. The ordinary ration is now Is a week, and there are doubts whether it will be possible to add much to it. It is already known there will be no increase in the fat ration. On the contrary, a reduced ration of 2oz of butter per person per week will be extended at least until January 3. Last year the ordinary ration was 3oz, and it was increased on December 8. Poultry of all types will be extremely short. Not only will there be no importation of Christmas turkeys, but the recent outbreaks of fowl pest have necessitated the slaughter of 141,000 birds. It is doubtful whether the export demands will permit any increase in the sweets ration, and the general sweets ration is expected to be cut from lib a head a month to 12oz early in the new year/ This will be necessitated by the increase in the sweets export target from 3 per cent, to 7 per cent, of the total output. No announcement has been made about any extra allocation of fruit, but oranges are expected to be very scarce. Owing to the exchange difficulties, negotiations for the purchase of a large quantity of Spanish oranges have recently broken down. Supplies of dried fruits are only 90 per cent, of those available last year.