SOLDIERS RATIONED

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 249, 22 October 1942, Page 5

SOLDIERS RATIONED

BEER AND CIGARETTE3. SYDNEY, Oct. 3. Australian soldiers, like United States troops, were rationed to 20 cigarettes daily or the equivalent in tobacco, the Minister for the Army, Mr F. M. F'orde, said in Canberra. Transport difficulties recently caused a temporary shortage of cigarettes and tobacco among troops in Western Australia, and the ration was cut to 90 cigarettes a week. Now, however, troops were getting their normal ration. The Australian Defence Canteens Service were practising austerity, Mr Forde said,. All clothing was rationed, and the number of goods for sale had been greatly reduced to conserve manpower. In areas where fresh fruit and other fresh food supplies could be obtained, canned articles had been withdrawn from sale to conserve tinplate. Beer v;as the only liquor sold in canteens, and its consumption was strictly controlled. Credit was not given, and "shouting" was banned. Soldiers vrere forbidden to take liquor into camps from outside camps. Commandants had authority to declare hotels near camps out of bounds. Pickets maintained discipline where wet canteens were conducted.