RATION SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 19, 17 October 1942, Page 6

RATION SCHEME

Operation During Next Six Months ISSUE OF NEW BOOKS No Tea For Children Under Ten Years Of Age An announcement covering the issue of the new ration books and the operation of the rationing scheme over the next six months was made yesterday by the Rationing Controller, Mr. J. E. Thomas, acting under the authority of, the Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr. Sullivan. The sugar coupons in the current issue of the ration book expire on October 31 and the issue of the new book will be made during the week beginning October 19. It has been decided ,to bring the coupon numbers relating to tea and sugar into line, and tea coupons numbers 21 to 26 inclusive are accordingly cancelled and should be destroyed. Arrangements have been made for the new books to be available at post offices and rationing offices. It will not be necessary on this occasion for applicants to produce Social Security books or to fill in a new application form as the issue of the books will be made against the production of the current ration book and surrender of the “O” counterfoil. The applicant for a new book in each case is required to enter on the “O” counterfoil the name and address of the ration book-holder and in the case of children under the age of 17 years, the date and year of birth. The “O” counterfoil is the counterfoil at the top of the sheet of “O” coupons. On production of the ration book at an issuing office the “O” counterfoil will be surrendered to the issuing officer and a new book issued. The old book must be retained in every case as the “M” and “0” coupons have not yet expired and in some eases there is information in the old book which will be required by rationing officers later on. It will be of assistance to issuing officers if applicants for the new books cut out the “0” counterfoil and produce it to the issuing office! with the ration book. Starting on November 1, IJ4-, tlie rationing system will operate as follows :—

The consumer is required to remain registered with the retailer with whom the old book was registered. The name of the retailer is to be entered on the inside of the front cover of the new ration book on tlie first occasion when the new. book is presented for the purchase of sugar. Transfers of registrations will not be permitted without tlie consent of a rationing officer unless the consumer changes his place of residence. method of effecting transfers will be different from that obtaining during the first six-monthly period in that the consumer will not be required to call at the rationing office at his new place o£ residence, t>\|t may take nis ration book direct to his new retailer. Instructions to retailers covering the operation of the new registration scheme are being printed and the pamphlet will be available at all rationing offices toward the end of the month. Retailers are advised to secure a copy before November 1 in order that the change-over to the new scheme may be effected expeditiously. Collective consumers, such as hotels, institutions and boarding-houses, who secure their supplies from wholesale sources are required to register then "uests or patients in the same manner as a retailer registers his customers. The system for transfer of registrations will also operate in the same manner for collective consumers as for retailers,' and all collective consumers in this class are advised to study the pamphlet, “Instructions to Retailers, so that they may become conversant with the operation of the new scheme. Collective consumers who purchase their sugar supplies by- way of retail are required to register their guests with a retailer in the same manner as members of a household.

Distinctive children’s books will be issued to all children under 10 years of age. These books will not $o n t a l n tea coupons, as it has been decided to discontinue the issue of tea to children in this age-group. Registration of the consumer wik not be required, and on making a purchase the consumer may hand in his ration book at any shop when the retailer will cut out the appropriate number of available coupons. Clothing.

The “0” coupons in the old ration book will be available for thepurchase of clothlug as from October 19, 1942, and will have the same value as the .“M" coupons. Both the M and “O” coupons may be used at any time up to May 31, 1943. Coupon values of clothing remain the same. The clothing coupons in the new ration book are not to be used and may not be accepted by retailers for purchases of rationed clothing till their use has been authorized by public notice A supplementary issue of 26 coupons will be made to every child who will have attained five but not 17 years of age on January 1, 1943. This extra issue may be used only in conjunction with the child’s ration book, and is designed to cover the extra needs of growing children, outfits for school and working clothes on leaving school. “Now that the people of the Dominion have become accustomed to the rationing of sugar, tea and clothing, it is not expected that any confusion will arise in the issuing of the new ration boks, but everyone is requested to wnteh out for announcements in tlie local newspapers giving information as to the situation of issuing offices and the times they will be open for business,” said Mr. Thomas.

WHERE TO APPLY FOR BOOKS

To relieve the pressure on the staff and counter accommodation at post offices which would be entailed by the issue of ration books during the day, the work is to be undertaken at moneyorder aud savings bank offices between tlie hours of 7 p.m. and 9<p.m„ Monday to Friday, from Monday next, October 1!) to Friday, October 30. A temporary office for the issue of ration books will be opened in “The Dominion” Building, Mercer Street, from Monday, October 19, to Saturday, November 7, inclusive. Hours of attendance will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Saturday. Application at this office may be made by any person residing in the Wellington rationing area, which does not include Eastbourne, Johnsonville. I’etone. or T.ower Hutt. Persons who for reasons such as ago or disability cannot obtain their books at this temporary office or attend during the evening, may obtain their books

during the day at a suburban moneyorder and savings bank office. The attention of die public is drawn to an advcrtisenieut in today’s issue describing the methods of application for ration books.