REASON IN RATIONING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1942, Page 4

REASON IN RATIONING

The Rationing Controller has adopted a very reasonable attitude towards complaints made by the farming community' regarding their treatment under the - rationing scheme. The distance which many people living in rural districts have to travel for their supplies is considerable, and it,would be unreasonable to expect these people to make frequent trips in order to conform strictly to rules and regulations designed in the main to cover distribution of rationed goods in the more thickly populated areas. Similarly, it would be unreasonable to interfere with the arrangements of farmers who find it necessary to purchase household requirements in bulk through agencies with which tKey do most of their normal business. The Controller has agreed to allow this practice to continue, provided the appropriate coupons are produced and that the period for which. the goods are intended to serve does not exceed two months. He has also made provision for consumers in very isolated districts to draw supplies for several months. These concessions should largely meet the complaints.

Farm workers whose labours in the open and in the shearing sheds naturally tend to make them large consumers of tea are also to receive the game treatment, in the matter of extra supplies of tea and sugar, as workers in factories, shops, and offices. By his action the Rationing Controller has shown a ready appreciation of the desirability of quickly meeting any complaints that may arise from the rationing scheme.' In applying a scheme which intimately affects everybody complications are bound to arise, but if the application is made elastic, and if officials are prepared to stretch the regulations to meet cases of genuine hardship, then there should be the minimum of inconvenience. The Rationing Controller has made a good start in meeting obvious difficulties.