THREEPENNY MEAT COUPONS WORTH 5D IN HOTELS

Chronicle (Levin), 9 May 1947, Page 5

THREEPENNY MEAT COUPONS WORTH 5D IN HOTELS

EOTORUA, May 7. A series of prosecutions of hotels, boardinghouses and the retail butehers ,vlio supplied them, for alleged breaches uf the tneat rationing regulations, heard during the last two days in the Magisirate's Court by Mr. S. L. Paterson, -4.M., coneluded this afternoon, decision lieing reserved in instances wliere pleas of not guilty were entered, °and the imposition of penalties was de t'erred in the cases where defendants pleaded guilty. In the course of the hearing it was «tated "that some 18 months ago the naanager of a leading Rotorua hotel had interviewed the controller in Wel1 lington and had obtained from him permission to secure his rationed meat on • a weight basis instead of on a monetarv basis as represented by current coupons. The effect of this change, it was said, was to turn a eondition of . ,'haos and difficulty into a smooth ruri ! ning system but unfortunately other , hotels and guest liouses were not' advised either locallv or from Wellington, ; of the possibility of making the change • untii eomparatively recently. Then | everv hotel and boarding house changed ; over and their view of the poundage . method of computing supplies was also enthusiastic as was' that ' of the > retailers. However, the eharges made related to dates antecedent to the . change. ; Another fact which emerged from the . testimony before the Court was that the t 3d coupou was valued at 5d where liotels and restaurants were eoneerned, j the 66 2-3 additional value over that for the home cons'umer being granted ^ for waste in supplying guests. , _ Evidence adduced on behalf of the ' -lefendant hotel and guesthouse keepers L showed that with the sanction of the , previous Jocal food controller, a system ' had sprung up of banking coupons on Wednesdays instead of on Alondays and ' this was the aceepted praeticFk As a s result meat seeured for Monday and Tuesday in such instances was general ly obtained in antieipation of eredit .dips issued against coupons lodged with the banks. The prosecution alleged, | hoifever, that in several cases, ctls.omers had got wegks behind.