BRITISH RATIONING

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 9, 6 October 1943, Page 8

BRITISH RATIONING

Strict Scale In Force WIDE SCOPE OF COVER The scale of rationing in lhe. United Kingdom nt the present time makes interesting reading. Following is the table of rationed commodities :— Meat —1/2 weekly for adults. The total ration corresponds to a little over lib. of meat with bone, against the average pre-war domestic consumption of ljlb.; 7d. worth weekly for children under five. Fats —Butter, margarine, and cooking fats, Soz. weekly; 2oz. of this must be cooking fats and not more than 2oz. butter, and the remainder margarine. Bacon and ham —4oz. weekly. Sugar—Soz. weekly. Cheese— Reduced from Boz. weekly m 1942 to Goz, between January 10 and February (>, 1943; from Coz. to 4oz. from February 7; onward, to Soz. on May 3. 1943. Tea—2oz. weekly. Preserves (jam, marmalade, imported honey, imitation honey, fruit curd ami mincemeat)---!lb. for four weeks. Pointq Rationing. “Points” rationed foods-<-These include canned meat, canned fish, canned beans, dried fruit, rice, sago, tapioca; dried pulses, canned fruit, canned peas, canned tomatoes, canned milk breakfast cereals, syrup, treacle, and biscuits. Each food is given a “poinls” value, which is varied from time to time to balance supply and demand. The allocation to the consumer remains at present at 20. points a four-week period. Some examples of “points” values included: Plain biscuits, 1 point per lb.; sweet biscuits, 4 points per lb.; grade 1 and 2 salmon, 32 points per lb.; canned tomatoes. lOoz. can, 3 points: cereal breakfast foods, from 2 to 4 points a packet; full cream sweetened canned milk. S points a can : lentils, 2 points a lb. Sweets and chocolate —3oz. weekly. Eggs—Not rigidly rationed; allocated as available; 12 allocations-, each of one egg for an ordinary consumer, between January and April. 1943. Priority consumers (expectant mothers and children 6-1 S months and certain classes of invalids) are allowed three eggs a week. Dried egg. in packages containing the equivalent of twelve shell eggs, is distributed at the rate of one package a ration book every eight, weeks; double this allocation to, child's ration book holders. Milk Supply Regulated. Milk—Not strictly rationed, but when in short supply its distribution is regulated. Non-priority consumers limited to two and a half pints. Canned milk is included on “points” rationing system. Separated milk powder was distributed during.the winter of .1942-1-3 at the rate of one can (equal to four pints) to each ration book lor eight weeks; unrestricted from January 10 to February 6. and since March 7, 1943. Clothes —Qu Juen 1, 1942. GO coupons were issued to every man, woman and child; no further issue Till August 31, 1943. A coat for man or woman, fully lined and made of wool; requjres IS coupons; shoes, men 7, women 5: maji's suit, 2G-29 (according to lining): woman's woollen dress. 11. Household furnishings—Certain furnishings can be bought' only on the surrender of clothes coupons. These include towels, tea towels, and lightweight materials- for use as curtains, chair covers, etc.

In the first year of clothes nilioiiiug more than 250.000 tons of shipping space was saved in textiles alone; nearly 400,000 men and women were release I from making civilian cloth and clothing. No Petrol for Private Cars.

Soap—Toilet and household soap, soup powder and ttukes are rationed. Points value is allocated to cake of soap or packet of flakes or powder, according to weight.

Motor Fuel—No petrol is supplied for private cars or motor-cycies. An allowance is granted only in case of genuine need, where alternative transport is no' available and the applicant's age and physical condition make -it absolutely necessary; admissible in cases, of essen tial shopping in rural areas, visits to hospital. etc. Supplementary allowances are issued for journeys for business and other essential purposes only; they were reduced from December. 1942, liy amounts ranging from 10 per cent, to 25 tier cent. Adjustments have been made to discourage the use of high-powered cars by permilting, by. comparison, a larger mileage for motor-cycles.