MEAT RATIONING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 April 1943, Page 4

MEAT RATIONING

LIKELY IN AUSTRALIA ON ACCOUNT OF WAR DEMANDS. BIG SURPLUS OF WHEAT IN HAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. A warning that meat is likely to be rationed in Australia has been given by the Minister of Commerce (Mr Scully). He said that although the Commonwealth had big reserves of mutton and good quantities of beef and lamb, it had only limited reserves of skilled labour for killing, chilling, canning and dehydration. Before the war, Australian civilian meat requirements were between 650,000 and 700,000 tons, while export needs were 250,000 tons. Now civilian needs were 900,000 tons, while service and export requirements this year would be half a million tens. Wheat on the other hand, Mr Scully said, provided an embarrassment of riches. It was estimated that there would be a carry-over of two hundred million bushels into the 1943 season. Other food supplies, including soft fruits, were in abundance, but distribution difficulties precluded the benefits being shared by all the people. Mr Scully declared that the supply position was a record of achievement in face of difficulties. Despite handicaps, the dairying industry had been able to supply the butter requirements of Great Britain, the services and Australian civilians. While the normal Australian might have to do with less of some things normally regarded as indispensable, there was no evidence that he would ever go short of food.