RATIONING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1942, Page 4

RATIONING

CLOTHING SCHEME

SCOPE TO BE EXTENDED. SPECIAL CLASSES OF CONSUMERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Bay. Steps taken to extend the scope of the clothing rationing scheme to include those consumers of rationed materials whose needs have not already been covered were announced last evening by the Minister of Supply and Munitions. Mr Sullivan, after consultation with the Rationing Controller, Mr J. E. Thomas. The Minister stressed the necessity for the utmost care and economy in the use of cloth and household linen for commercial purposes, and indicated that it was possible to authorise the purchase of only urgent replacements and essential business requirements. Provision is made under the following heads: Rationing officers are authorised to issue permits to cover the needs of poultry-farm-ers, tobacco-growers, book-binders, factories and all other commercial users who require rationed cloth and materials in the course of their operations. In some instances it will be found that substitute materials may be satisfactorily employed, it is stated, and in such cases cloth must be conserved by using the substitute. TAILORS AND DRESSMAKERS. Permits may be issued by rationing officers for purchases of materials by tailors, dressmakers and others engaged for 'their livelihood in the manufacture of clothes, millinery and toys for resale to the public. These permits are in a special form, which provides for the recording of all purchases made. When the garments or articles are sold by the consumer, coupons must, of course, be surrendered, and these coupons are to be collected and handed to the rationing officer by the manufacturer when application is made for a further permit. CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS. The Red Cross, Plunket Society, Salvation Army, Society of St. Vincent de Paid and kindred organisations engaged in the making of clothes may obtain permits for their requirements of materials from rationing officers provided the garments so made are given away and not sold. In all cases where the materials used are purchased under perimit, coupons must be collected from the recipients of the garments and handed in to the rationing officer from whom the permit was obtained. The issue of further permits will depend on the fulfilment of this condition. The authority which has already been given for the sale of goods coupon-free if they have been donated remains in operation, but does not apply in respect of articles made from materials purchased under permit.

ESSENTIAL REPLACEMENTS.

Hotels, boarding-houses, orphanages, hospitals, apartment houses and other such collective consumers will be permitted to make essential replacements to their stocks of house-hold linen and blankets. Application is to be made, on the form provided, to the nearest rationing officer, and is to cover requirements for not more than six months ahead.

Towels and tea-towels provided for the use of the staff in factories and shops will be made available in a similar manner. Hairdressers, dentists and others also come under this heading. When the loss of clothing by fire or theft necessitates the purchase of a new outfit, rationing officers will deal with applications for additional coupons. Cases where the provisions of the scheme entail individual hardship will also receive every consideration. Application in each instance is to be made on the appropriate form to the nearest rationing officer.