MORE BUTTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1943, Page 3

MORE BUTTER

DEMANDED BY AUSTRALIAN WORKERS. PROTEST STRIKE AT ONE COLLIERY. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 9. Complaints about butter rationing have been made by Australian coal miners, wharf labourers, and railwaymen. At one colliery 490 miners staged a one-day strike as a protest against the rationing, claiming that half a pound of butter a week for each person is inadequate for miners. The Newcastle Waterside Workers Federation decided to seek an increase in the ration of butter for wharf labourers. Their complaint, like that of, the miners and railway men, is that they are forced to take many cut meals to their work, sometimes two a day. They contend that this fact, together with the nature of their work, justifies a double ration of butter. The vast majority of Australians have accepted butter rationing without complaint, the amount being considered quite adequate for the average consumer. Following appeals to surrender last year's clothing coupons, many people feel that they have been unfairly treated by the inclusion of certain “Manchester” goods—towels, sheeting, and other cotton goods—in the coupon coverage for personal clothing. City stores report that' thousands of women besieged their lay-by departments demanding refunds of deposits and instalments'paid on Manchester goods. Coupons must now be surrendered for these goods immediately the intending purchaser makes a lay-by.

Rumours that flour and soap are likely to be rationed soon have been denied by the Minister of Trade and Customs, Senator Keane. Mild panic buying had started in these commodities. Some people are reported to have bought soap by the hundredweight. The Minister said that it was an offence for any person to spread rumours about the likely rationing of any commodity.