§ Mr. CLYNESasked the Minister of Food (1) whether the butter ration is going shortly to be reduced to 1 oz. per person per week; and what steps are being taken to secure additional supplies of available butter;
(2) whether, in view of the serious drought in Australasia and shortage of butter generally, there is any prospect of a temporary stoppage of supplies of butter to the public; whether it is proposed to take effective steps to secure butter which is available for shipment from Holland at about the same price as the Ministry are now paying to other countries; and, if not, will butter importers be allowed to import the butter themselves?
Mr. ROBERTSIt is the case that owing to serious drought the supplies of Australasian butter will be materially smaller than had been expected. As has already been announced in. the Press, the butter ration will be reduced to 1 oz. on and after 15th December. In order to maintain even tins limited ration through the winter months efforts are being made by the Ministry to obtain additional supplies of butter from every available source. The question of private importation, therefore, does not arise at present.