ABOLITION OF RATIONING

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26125, 30 May 1950, Page 4

ABOLITION OF RATIONING

INCREASED STAFF FOR POST OFFICE (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 29. If petrol rationing is abolished, it will mean a substantial and unexpected gain in staff for the New Zealand Post Office. With butter restrictions ending at the week-end and with a free market for petrol also probable, the under-staffed Post and Telegraph Department may gain the equivalent of 150 employees for general duties. Although the Industries and Commerce and Transport Departments have provided small executive staffs for the direction of rationing from Wellington, the public administration of the schemes has been the responsibility of the Post Office. It has maintained special departments in the main centres to deal with rationing matters. and in smaller towns and settlements the extra duties have been absorbed within the general framework of the postmasters’ jobs. In some country towns, postmasters have found up to a third of their time occupied with the administration of petrol licences. A vast amount of time and a huge quantity of paper have been used in pursuing involved disputes over industrial and commercial allocations and in answering complaints. The financial saving from the abolition of rationing may be almost £lOO.OOO a year.. This amount includes the substantial printing bill for coupons. licence forms, butter ration cards and special permits.