“TO HIM THAT HATH...”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 8

“TO HIM THAT HATH...”

Sir,—Does Mr Nordmeyer not know, in spite of all we read in the press, that Britain is really deficient in fats, and that the meat ration there is much lower than ours? And have not he and his colleagues been urging us for months past to save coupons so that everything possible may be sent where it is so badly needed? Then why, in the name of decency, make this unnecessary gesture, handing out tons of butter and meat to our already well-fed people? Most of us like butter and could do with more but when we think of all the unrationed food we have—potatoes, oatmeal, bread, flour, bacon, etc., not to mention unlimited fat —we should be ashamed of this over-generous gift to us of food which should go to Britain. His cheap suggestion that those who do not want the butter and meat may surrender their coupons is beneath notice. The only satisfactory way of ensuring that this extra food will get to Britain is to tnake it not available in New Zealand.—l am, etc., K. J. G.

Sir, —With reference to the discussions being carried on throughout New Zealand regarding Christmas food rations, may I suggest the following grace, to be recited at Christmas dinner:—"We thank God for the things He has this day provided for our physical sustenance. . Also for the knowledge that staunching the human stomach with calories availeth little if the soul be starved in the process.”—l am. etc.. Merry Heart.

Sir,—l wish to support the remarks of Mr L. F. Evans at last week’s meeting of the Aid to Britain Campaign, and would point to the high incidence of tuberculosis among the young women, and according to a recent news broadcast among the returned soldiers of New Zealand, and agree with one of your correspondents that we must look to the health of our own people first. In reply to the suggestion by Mr Clarke that “ the other nine ships could be diverted to Australia to load wheat,” the Government in Australia has decided that the flour which Australia will export from its coming bumper wheat harvest will not go to Britain, because its quality would be too high for Britain's austerity bread, although the United Kingdom is asking for all the food she can get, including wheat. It will be shipped to the Middle East, Ceylon, Burma, and Malaya by agreement with Britain, meaning the Socialist Government of Britain, which is working according to plan, allowing the people the minimum of rations, while driving them to produce for export, at the behest of the Arch Planners —the Money Power operating from New York.—l am. etc., a Reader.

Sir,—Mr Wight, secretary of the South Island Dairy Association, sees fit to criticise the Government for allowing all the people an extra Jib of butter at Christmas. Mr Wight has nothing to say about the privileged few having extra butter all the. year round. Until recently Mr Wight was secretary of one of our local golf clubs, which squanders an extra 1401 b of butter a year. Mr Wight must feel somewhat of a hypocrite, eating his buttered scones at afternoon teas on the week-ends, then during the week deploring the Government’s Jib per person Christmas allowance. Does Mr Wight consider he is entitled to extra butter all the year round and elderly people, children, workers, etc. should not have any extra even once a year? If the position is so critical, will Mr Wight publicly advocate the cessation of these extras for the privileged few? —I am, etc., Interested.

[This letter was referred to Mr Wight, who replied as follows:— ’’The regulations. I understand, provide for the granting of butter, tea and sugar rations to persons who are employed as caterers to sports clubs. Those rations are not given for the benefit of the members of such clubs, but in the interest of the caterers, whose living would be affected if the rations were withheld. In effect, these caterers are treated in the same way as the owners of public restaurants, which, I think, is reasonable. The golf club I belong to has a membership of 380, including members of the Ladies’ Club. The caterer. I understand, is allowed Ulb of butter for the four-weekly rationing period. This allowance will provide for each member less than Joz a week, or, say, 6oz a year.”—Ed., O.D.T.]