EXTRA CLOTHING COUPONS

Southland Times, Issue 24875, 15 October 1942, Page 4

EXTRA CLOTHING COUPONS

ISSUE TO CHILDREN ■ IN NEW PERIOD Additional clothing coupons are to be issued for children who are five years of age but not more than 17 years of age by January 1, 1943. When the new ration books are issued children between these ages will receive an extra sheet of clothing coupons. This information was supplied by an official of the Chief Post Office, Invercargill, yesterday. He emphasized the necessity for people retaining their old ration books after they have received the new ones. Apart from the fact that any M ing) coupons in the old books will be valid until May 31, 1943, the 0 coupons in the old books, which have not yet been used, will be used later as clothing coupons. Even after all the M and O coupons in the old ration books are used they must still be retained because certain particulars may be recorded in them which may later have to be produced to rationing officers. Referring to the fact that no tea coupons were to be issued to children under the age of 10 on January 1 next, the official said that there was no provision for the issue of tea coupons to children who reached their tenth birthday in 1943. They would have to wait until towards the end of 1943 when new ration books would be issued. METHOD OF APPLICATION The possession of a current ration book would form the basis of the issue of a new book. The holder was to make application by writing his or her name and address in ink, in block letters, on the counterfoil of the O sheet or coupons in the current book. In the case of children 16 years of age and under the date of birth must be shown in the space provided for the retailer s name and address. The O counterfoil was to be cut out and presented at the rationing counter together with the current ration book. The sheet of O coupons must not be removed as these, as already stated, were to be used later. Another interesting fact mentioned by the official was that in the new rationing period there would be no W ration books (books for women and containing the special X coupons). SUGAR AND TEA The present system requiring registration with a retailer for the purchase of sugar was to be continued, but in the new rationing period the cutting out of sugar coupons from ration books by retailers would no longer be required provided coupons as they were used were cancelled in ink or by means of a rubber stamp. This modified system, the official explained, would relieve rationing officers of the necessity of handling removals, sorting counterfoils and counting sugar, coupons. In the new period tea and sugar permits for shop, office and factory staffs and fire-watching personnel would be issuel to cover a period of six months. The permit would have six coupons attached. Each coupon would have on it the quanity of tea and sugar authorized and the month for which it was valid. The permit when it was expended must be returned to the rationing office from which it was issued before a fresh permit could be obtained. The work of issuing the new ration books is to begin next Monday. At the Chief Post Office, Invercargill, the books will be issued at the main public counter between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 8.30 a.m. till noon on Saturday. Books will also be issued between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday. People are advised to make early application for their new books and so avoid the inconvenience that will arise if they do not have the new books in their possession by November 1.