ISSUE OF RATION BOOKS

Southland Times, Issue 24886, 28 October 1942, Page 4

ISSUE OF RATION BOOKS

Many Delay In Making Application

The public has not responded as freely as was expected to the appeal to make early application for the new ration books. A special staff was engaged to deal with the issue of the books at the Invercargill Chief Post Office, but though there have been rush periods the staff has not been fully engaged for the whole time since the issue began. Officials fear that there may be a heavy rush in the last day or two. There are now only three and a half working days before the end of the month.

To date 18,359 ration books have been issued at Invercargill, but as it is estimated that there are 33,000 books to be issued in the Invercargill food area, which* includes the city and adjacent rural areas, it is obvious that a large number of persons have still to collect their books. It is to their own interest to do so before the end of the month, because it will be impossible to buy tea and sugar next month except with coupons from the new books. Books will be issued at Invercargill today between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. These hours will also be observed tomorrow and on Friday, and in addition on these two days the office will be open between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. for the issue of books. On Saturday the hours will be 9 a.m. to noon. Yesterday 2159 ordinary ration books, 539 children’s books and 638 sheets of special clothing coupons for children between the ages of 5 and 17 were issued at Invercargill.