CLOTHES RATION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 123, 27 May 1942, Page 3

CLOTHES RATION

SCHEME IN BRITAIN

MOST EQUITABLE SYSTEM

LONDON, Mai' !*>■

Has Britain's clothes rationing system, which Australia is going to copy, been successful? Hoard of Trade officials unanimously say "Yes". It is essential that rationing decisions must be kept secret until the moment they come into operation. The dramatically sudden announcement of clothes rationing in Britain on June 1, 1941, did not give the people a chance to stock up. The Board of Trade continued to follow the Food Ministry's policy of making announcements on Sundays of decisions coming into effect oh the following day. The public's attitude to the clothes rationing is similar to its attitude to food rationing, namely, that it is the most equitable system for sharing the available goods, irrespective of ability to buy. Although the strictest penalties arcimposed for illegal traffic in loose coupons, the Board of Trade allows the interchange of coupons between members of a family, which gives a certain latitude. Questionnaires issued by the Board of Trade last year on clothes rationing show that the average man or woman can and does manage on the present allowance. Anyone with a normal wardrobe before rationing ; was instituted can keep himself or j herself reasonably dressed. Women 1 have most difficulty in maintaining an adequate supply of stockings and shoes, while winter underclothes, socks and later suits constitute the main clothes problem for the men. Persons are now buying much more sensibly, and are demanding pood value for their coupons, with the result that ill-mode trashy stocks arc being left on the shelves. "Fewer but better" is Britain's shopping slogan to-d'iy. It has been proved that the nation's health has not suffered so far by the limitation of clothes purchasing. One result has been that the business of renovating is booming. because men and women are having their worn clothes professionally mended and turned. The Government fosters economy by sponsoring utility clothing, for which 80 per cent of British manufactured materials are reserved.

Good Design Encouraged Famous couturiers design clothes which cost far less than those which are not included in the utility groups, and the Government makes the most of the available materials by encouraging good design. This also prevents prices from rocketing because no one is going to pay more for a garment of poorer quality and poorer design. Clothes rationing has proved that the Government must guard against rlishonesty. It must protect the scheme against selfish consumers as well as greedy traders. This is mainly done ov severe penalties, including imprisonment, but as far as possible dishonesty is prevented rather than allowed to reach a stage j where detection is necessary. The Board of Trade points out that administrative faults are being eliminated, and an intricate system of printing for the new issue of clothes coupons should prevent forgeries of coupons. A new system 0i banking coupons for wholesalers an;. retailers should prevent traffic in loose coupons. The inability to gecoupons for replacements of stock automatically limits black market activities.