Answers to Resolutions Passed at Last Convention

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 3, 1 April 1947, Page 7

Answers to Resolutions Passed at Last Convention

The following letters have been received by Miss C. Henderson, .1.1’., in answer to hers conveying the text of resolutions passed at the 1946 Convention. They were read during 11 Convention. Office of Minister of Health, Wellington, 7th June, 1946. Dear Madam,— 1 acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 27th May conveying the text oi two resolutions passed at the Annual Convention of the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union. With reference to the first request that advice be given regarding tindanger of the drink habit, the Department has used the radio broadcasting j*iiodically to give advice on flu- drink question. It is intended to continue dealing with this subject front time to time in the future. W ith regard to your second resolution, I have to advise that the Department doe> pay attention to the care of foodstuffs. A difficulty is that local authorities have the direct control of retailers’

premises in towns of any size. However, the Department exercises a supervisory function and is endeavouring all the time to accomplish higher standards of cleanliness in the handling of foodstuffs. In addition the radio, the press and magazines are being used to educate both food handlers and the general public in the need for higher hygienic ideals with regard to food handling. Yours faithfully, D. R. NORDMEYER, Minister of Health.

Office of the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Wellington, 20th June, 1946. Dear Miss Henderson, — 1 have your letter of 27th May in which you convey the text of a resolution carried at the Annual Convention of the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union, dealing with the rationing of sugar as it affects breweries. In reply, I wish to say that the amount of sugar used by the breweries in New Zealand forms only a very small fraction of the total sugar usage and even if the manufacture of beer were entirely eliminated, there would be no appreciable difference in the supplies available for other purposes. The sugar allowances to breweries have already been cut by 50 °/r of prerationing consumption, and in this respect they are on an equal footing with other industries whose output is not within the essential class. Yours sincerely, D. G. SULLIVAN.

Prime Minister’s Office, Wellington, 30th May, 1946. Dear Madam, — 1 have to acknowledge the receipt ot your letter of the 27th May and note that the members of the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temjaerance Union are of opinion that building material should not he used for hotels while the housing problem is so acute. I shall be glad to bring your representations in this connection to the notice of the Hon. Minister of Works. Yours faithfully, JAMES THORN, for the Prime Minister. Office of Minister of Works, Wellington, 18th June, 194 b Dear Madam, — The Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister has referred to me your letter of the 27th of May expressing your Union’s opinion that building materials should not he * used for hotels while the housing problem is so acute. In this eonection I would like to point out that Licensing Authorities all over the Dominion are continually requesting licensees to provide a better standard of service from the point of view of living accommodation, sanitary condition of kitchens, sanitary conditions of b;rs. In many cases, too, Health Inspect >rs have made representation to the Building Controller for the repairing of many rat-infested hotel premises. The Building Control Advisory Committee is fully seized with the urgency of providing homes for returned servicemen and is most reluctant to see any materials going into hotels, brew-eries, racecourses, etc., that might he a\Oided, and has only allowed items which ensure a Reasonable standard of decency. General maintenance, however, is not covered hv Building Regulations and maintenance can he effected by building owners without a building permit provided there are no structual alterations. Tn the main T agree with your Union’s views on the matter. Yours faithfully, R SEMPLE. • Minister of Works.