With Gratitude

Thanks be to New Zealand for giving the UK butter and for the might of Sir Keith Park writes The Financial Times’ Miss Moneypenny. “New Zealand’s dairy farmers deserve support for coming to the rescue in the second world war. In October 1943, New Zealand introduced butter rationing with an allowance of 8oz per person per week, so that it could supply US troops and the UK instead. There are many platforms on which our butter industry could stand to promote their brands without knocking New Zealand. New Zealand came to the rescue in the Second World War in other ways, too. As regular readers know, this column has been a strong supporter of the campaign to put up a suitable memorial to the New  Zealander Sir Keith Park, the senior commander of the Royal Air Force Sector 11 Squadrons (11 Group), who defended London and the south-east of England during the Battle of Britain.” Moneypenny concludes: “So, thank you to everyone, all around the world, who has supported the campaign. A very satisfying result. And thank you, New Zealand, for lending us your talent and sending us your butter during the Second World War — and not looking after number one first.”