FOOD RATIONING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1939, Page 5

FOOD RATIONING

NOT YET NECESSARY IN BRITAIN LABOUR DEMAND OPPOSED BY MINISTER. PRICE OF NEW ZEALAND BUTTER RISES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, November 9. In the House of Commons, the Minister of Food, Mr W. S. Morrison, opposed a Labour demand for the immediate introduction of comprehensive rationing, declaring that it was unnecessary till actually required. He estimated that the largest quantity of butter 'that could be accumulated in a year was 20,000 tons, which was two week’s normal supply. Mr Morrison denied charges of muddling. Sir George Schuster declared that the 'sudden rise in the price of New Zealand butter to 145 s a cwt was not justified. He was unable to ascertain whether New Zealand was getting the benefit of it. Sir Samuel Hoare said Germany would never starve out Britain, and for that reason the Government had decided not to impose full rationing immediately. “Our position is intensely stronger than Germany’s,” he said “I claim that we will continue to secure food and raw materials despite the new U-boats being constructed in Germany, though there might be some dislocation and delay.”

The Labour motion demanding immediate rationing was defeated by 187 votes to 104.