CLOTHING COUPONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1941, Page 4

CLOTHING COUPONS

INSTITUTION OF RATIONING IN BRITAIN CONTROL AIMED AT RATHER THAN RESTRICTION. BOARD OF TRADE WORKS IN SECRECY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 31. The British Government is introducing tomorrow an extensive scheme for rationing of clothing, cloth, footwear and knitting wool. Everyone will receive 66 coupons yearly, in which trafficking is forbidden. Under the scheme a man's suit and shirt require 26 to 28 coupons and a woman’s dress requires eleven. The system is expected to go some way to prevent a shortage of supply in cheaper goods from arising. Though a wealthy customer may pay 12 guineas for a suit, he cannot buy beyond the limit of his coupons. The same right is open to a man whose suit costs 50s. It is probable that a family with an income of 35s weekly will find that' the coupon system will reduce their consumption of footwear and clothing by about 20 per cent. Rationing will probably require slightly more than the present level of production. It is net designed to restrict supply, so much as overcome, geographical and social maldistribution.

The Board of Trade worked in the closest secrecy and the scheme was a secret well kept. Saturday night throngs in the shopping centres of Britain had no idea that the last chance was gone to buy clothes without coupons when the shutters were put up for the weekend.