REMOVING ANOMALIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 135, 10 June 1942, Page 4

REMOVING ANOMALIES

_ __— » In its efforts to deal with anomalies which have arisen through the necessarily sudden application of clothes rationing, the Government, through the Controller (Mr. Thomas) has acted promptly and reasonably. That is not to say that all difficulties have been surmounted or that new difficulties will not be met with, but the decisions announced today meet many of the points to which attention has been drawn. This attitude on the part of the authorities will give general satisfaction and should lead to a smoother working of the scheme. The provision now made for members of the Armed Forces living in camps or other military establishments to supplement the clothing supplied to them is a reasonable one. There are a number of items of clothing not supplied, and when these wear out they must be replaced by the man himself or.by way of gifts from relatives and friends. Members of the forces are now to receive a special issue of fifteen clothing coupons, either to make purchases themselves or to send to relatives and friends to make purchases on their behalf. Special facilities are also to be given to next-of-kin to buy items of clothing for men serving outside New Zealand. Members of the Armed Forces who, while they are supplied with ~;f rn? c. # l,' ve i n their own ho:*nw or

make full use of the civilian ration books already issued to them, and there is also provision to enable certain employers who supply uniforms for their workers to obtain these coupon-free. This is generous treatment and would appear to place such members of the forces and uniformed ; workers at an advantage over the rest iof the community. Obviously, those who receive uniforms, either because of military duties or because of the nature of their work, will have less reason to use their coupons than those who use their ordinary clothing every day of the week. At the same time, there are probably insuperable difficulties in the way of making ah adjustment which would not result in a measure of unfairness to someone. Couples who are contemplating marriage will welcome the announcement that a scheme is now being worked out to enable them to obtain additional supplies of household linen. Naturally.when a new home is being established full sets of linen are necessary, and these could not be obtained on the present supply of coupons. On the whole, the rationing authorities are entitled to credit for a genuine effort to deal fairly with complaints.