Col. Lord Glanusk, C.B., D.S.O published a poem in the
Wanganui Chronicle on 12 January 1916. His poem not only stressed the need to
be frugal, but also cautions soldiers on what it was they should be frugal
with:
“To
a soldier on service these tips I explain,
Should
carry you through e’en the longest campaign,
A
very sound rule is, wherever your beat,
Don’t
part with a “biscuit” without a receipt.
But
if you take charge of it, surely it’s sound too,
Don’t
give a receipt, then, unless you are bound to.
Care
there should be, if your life you’d preserve,
Ammunition,
food, men, keep a bit in reserve.
Don’t
waste any food, and throw nothing away,
Or
perhaps you’ll go hungry the very next day.”
(The Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 50248, 12
January 1916)
World War One
New Zealand newspapers during wartime published many
articles about food production, contingency plans and how New Zealanders could
help out.
The
Colonist: 6 August 1914 – Sir Joseph Ward (leader of the opposition)
suggested that the government have the power to appoint a board of control to,
“regulate the price of foodstuffs”.
The
Colonist: 19 June 1915 – news from London stated that discussions were
being held around preparing for food production if the war extended beyond the
“1916 harvest”.
The
Evening Post: 17 September 1915 – a group of businesses from Sydney,
Australia send war-food gifts to England.
The
Evening Post: 18 January 1917 – the retail prices are 87% over the
pre-war prices in England. Principal increases are in potatoes, fish, flour,
butter and cheese.
Marlborough
Express: 21 February 1918 – the National Economy League formed in
Palmerston North adopts the slogan, “Food wins the War – Save It!” The slogan
was approved by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward. The league proposed that
people could save in small ways. If New Zealanders reduced their waste in
approximately 200,000 households, then the country would, “save sufficient to
feed the whole of our New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, whether in camps,
hospitals, on transports or at the front”.
 |
A Wellington
regiment’s field kitchen near the front line. Photograph taken at Grevillers,
France. 24 August
1918 by Henry Armytage Sanders.
(A Wellington Regiment's field kitchen near the front line, World War I.
Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association :New Zealand official
negatives, World War 1914-1918. Ref: 1/2-013518-G. Alexander Turnbull Library,
Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22696605)
|
 |
Soldiers preparing a meal near a damaged German tank, possibly at Pont-a-Pierre,
France, late 1918 by Henry Armytage Sanders.
(World War I soldiers
preparing a meal near a damaged German tank, France. Royal New Zealand Returned
and Services' Association :New Zealand official negatives, World War 1914-1918.
Ref: 1/1-002081-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22909970)
|
Post World War One
The
Evening Post: 30 April 1919 - The cost of food after the war was very
high, especially with the basics:
“In France 1 pound of butter cost the
equivalent of 42NZ dollars,
1 pound of lamb cost the
equivalent of 22NZ dollars and 1 pound
of tea cost the equivalent of
15NZ dollars”. Throughout the world
there was a shortage of
commodities, including butter.
Traders were asking to get rid of government control of
price enforcement of commodities. This included bread, meat, butter, lard,
dried fruits, eggs, tea and alcohol.
World War Two
Evening
Post: 1 April 1943 - New Zealand representatives took part in a
conference where delegates explored the long-range effects of war-food
problems.
Ellesmere
Guardian: 19 April 1940 – the Auckland district Council of Primary
Production looked at three areas to explore the production of pig and butter
production and heavier wool clips. R.B Tennant, director of Primary Production
said that increasing production in farming should focus on farmers who were already
farming as opposed to breaking in new land. Employment options were recruiting
men from the Public Works Department and youths leaving school. However, a
drawback was housing conditions on farms.
Farmers were also urged to save more heifer calves to
build up dairy production. Tennant called these measures, “common-sense lines
for advancing production.”
Ration books were first issued in April 1942 through the
Post Office to the head of each household. The coupons were cut from the book
by retailers. Each household were given 52 clothing coupons per year. These
books highlighted the need for New Zealanders to be frugal during wartime.
 |
| Cover of a World War Two Ration Book
Ration Book, October 1943, New Zealand, by New Zealand Government. Gift of
Alison Hutton, 2008. Te Papa (GH012052)
|
 |
| Sugar Coupons
Ration Book, October 1943, New Zealand, by New Zealand Government. Gift of
Alison Hutton, 2008. Te Papa (GH012052)
|
 |
| Tea Coupons
Ration Book, October 1943, New Zealand, by New Zealand Government. Gift of
Alison Hutton, 2008. Te Papa (GH012052)
|
Post World War Two
Evening
Post: 24 November 1945 – Mr R. H. Buchanan, President of the fielding
Branch of Federated Farmers said that, “the total value of meat, butter, cheese
etc., shipped overseas during the war period was £417,130,000, which did not
take into account the amount consumed locally.
Food & Goods
Shipped During Wartime
|
|||
Processed Milk
|
3,400,000 tons
|
Cabbages
|
25,900 tons
|
Meat
|
over 2,000,000
tons
|
Canned Vegetables
|
23,625 tons
|
Butter
|
over 700,000 tons
|
Dehydrated
Vegetables
|
16,785 tons
|
Cheese
|
625,000 tons
|
Other Fresh
Vegetables
|
15,075 tons
|
Fruit
|
154,285 tons
|
Carrots
|
11,565 tons
|
Potatoes
|
55,800 tons
|
Onions
|
5,535 tons
|
Wool Produced
5,400,000 bales
equal to 825,000 tons (4,150,000 bales shipped overseas and the balance held
in New Zealand)
|
|||
Written by Ani Sharland with thanks to images from Alexander Turnbull Library, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and newspaper articles from Papers Past.
