SPECIAL CONSUMERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 135, 10 June 1942, Page 6

SPECIAL CONSUMERS

PERSONS IN UNIFORM

The provision made under the rationing system for special classes of consumers was announced last night by the Minister of Supply and Munitions (Mr. Sullivan). The special classes include members of the Armed Services, nurses, and others whose occupation requires the wearing of a uniform.. The Minister also announced an extension of the coupon-free schedule. The Minister's statement was as follows: — . The Armed Services' leave ration cards now being issued to members of the forces on leave from camps include "M" coupons. These coupons, which are marked "M-J ration-N.A.A." and "M-full ration-N.A.A.,? are not available for the purchase 'of rationed goods and are not to be accepted by retailers under any circumstances. Members of the armed services not normally living in camp have already been issued with the ordinary civilian ration books. These officers, men, and women will continue to use their coupons under the same conditions.as civilians. Members of the armed services normally living in camp have not been issued with ration books. When absent on leaye they will be issued with leave ration cards, but these, while available for rationed foods, will not be available for clothing. A special issue of 15 clothing coupons will, however, be issued to enable clothing not supplied as part of equipment to be purchased by officers, men and women, normally living in camp : and who, therefore,. do not hold the civilian ration books. This special issue is so designed that parts of the sheet of 15 coupons may be sent to relatives and friends who are making purchases on ! behalf of members of the armed services living in camp. The following members of the armed I forces will be entitled to the special issue of 15 clothing coupons if as a result of living in camp they are nqt in possession of the civilian ration book:—All ranks of the.Army and Air Force in New Zealand; all ranks of the Allied Forces who may be stationed in the Dominion (as distinct from personnel passing through the Dominion); all new members of the A.rmy and Air Force as they enter camp; officers, chief petty officers, and petty officers of the Navy attached to New Zealand stations; members of the nursing staff, W.R.N.S., W.W.S.A., and W.A.A.F. PURCHASES BY NEW OFFICERS. An additional set of coupons will be supplied to officers of the Army and Air Force on attaining commissioned rank to enable them to purchase. the additional clothing required. Till it is possible iov> this issue to be made, all ranks on entering the armed forces should be careful to purchase their immediate requirements with the ordinary ration coupons before surrendering the-book to the military authorities. Every six months, a special issue of 15 coupons will be made to the next-of-kin of all members of all branches of the armed services overseas, except prisoners of war, to permit the purchase and dispatch of additional items of clothing by their relatives and friends. ; |On discharge after completing six months' service or more, members of any branch of the armed services will be supplied with a block of 26 coupons in addition to the full number of "M" coupons in the i*ation book. In the case of soldiers who have served for more than 12 months, it is proposed to make an additional issue to cover the purchase of a complete new wardrobe. j Soldiers, sailors, and. airmen of Allied Forces passing through the Dominion and requiring rationed, goods must first obtain a certificate .from a responsible officer of their own "forces to the effect that the goods are, essential. Retailei's may accept such certificate in place of coupons for the purchase of clothing and footwear by the bearers, subject to the production to ,the retailer of satisfactory identity papers. The rationed goods must be required for personal use of members of the Allied Forces, the purchase of rationed goods for presents to friends not being permitted. ' " \ CIVILIAN UNIFORMS. Uniforms and protective clothing provided by the employer under the provisions of an industrial award are to be supplied coupon-free against the written order of the employer. Uniforms worn ,in the course .of their duties by officers of State Departments and local authorities such as tramway boards and fire boards are coupon-free. . , • ■ Uniforms for non-commissioned ranks of the Salvation Army may be supplied coupon-free on the production of a certificate from the divisional commander. Commissioned ranks of the Salvation Army are expected to provide their uniforms out of their coupon .allowance, but in exceptional cases the same provision will apply as for non-commissioned ranks. Caps and bonnets with trimmings may be supplied coupon-free to members of the Salvation Army. Members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade may be supplied with uniforms coupon-free on production of a comniandery certificate. Uniforms for bandsmen may be supplied against written orders from approved band authorities without the surrender of coupons. In all other cases, where the employee either purchases or meets the cost of the uniform, the requisite coupons must be surrendered when the purchase is made. NURSES' UNIFORMS. If a nurse is required to provide her own uniform either for civilian duties or for service with the Armed Forces, she may be supplied without surrender of coupons subject to the production and surrender of a certificate specifying the articles required and issued, as follows: —Health Department nurses, by the Health Department; private registered nurses, by the local branch of the Registered Nurses' Union; Army nurses and V.A.D.s, by the matron-in-chief; Red Cross nurses, by the secretary of the Red Cross centre; Plunket nurses, by a district charge nurse; St. John nurses, by the commandery, Order of St. John; hospital, board nurses, by the hospital board. Stockings of white or black lisle required by nurses are now excluded from the "X" coupon scheme, and may be purchased only by nurses against "M" coupons. Ration books or "M" coupon sheets used for this purpose must bear at the top of the "M" sheet the stamp or seal of the appropriate authority as indicated above. The coupon surrender-value of black or white stockings supplied to nurses is £ coupon a pair of stockings. E.P.S. EQUIPMENT. Blankets, sheets, towels, uniforms, and equipment for E.P.S. patrol and fire-watching duties may be supplied coupon-free against written orders certified as essential by a district warden. DRESSMAKING AND TAILORING. In making up suits, costumes, etc., to the order of customers who supply their own material, the tailor or dressmaker must receive from the customer before delivery is made coupons equivalent to the difference between the coupon-value of the material supplied by the customer and the coupon-value of the finished article, in accordance with the schedule. Uniforms for the Armed Forces, police, and other ap-. proved organisations where the ma-

teriar is supplied by the organisation are not subject to this condition. ORDERS PLACED BEFORE MAY 29. The special provision for suits and costumes ordered before May 25 may be extended to include shoes and boots or corsets specially made to measure. This means that orders received before May 29 for corsets or boots and shoes, other than surgical types already exempted, which require to be manufactured to the measurements of the individual, may be supplied without coupons, provided they are executed not later than July 31, 1942. MANUFACTURERS ON A SMALL ■■'•■■■ SCALE. Purchases of material by way of retail for the manufacture of clothes, millinery, and toys do not require" the surrender of coupons provided the goods manufactured' are for resale. Special' provision will be made for the issue of permits to this type of consumer. In the meantime, and till further notice, small purchases may be made on production of written orders bearing a certificate to the effect that the material required will be used only for the purpose of manufacturing for resale. These orders should be presented only to a shop where the manufacturer is. known or where his bona fides can be readily established. SALE OF REMNANTS. Remnants may be sold coupon-free if sizes are within the following limits: Up to 40 inches in width—less than lyd; more than 40 inches and up to 54 inches in width—less than ■2yd. SCHOOL UNIFORMS. Parents who intend sending their children to school where a special outfit is required are advised to commence saving coupons immediately, as no special issue can be made for this purpose. MARRIAGES. A special scheme whereby prospective married couples may obtain additional supplies of household linen is in the course of preparation, and details will be released shortly. COUPON-FREE SCHEDULE. The following additions have been made to the list of coupon-free goods:— Leggings of waterproof material. Cinematograph-screen fabric. Women's neckwear other than scarf or blousefront. Flags, pennants. Curtains (made up). Loose covers for furniture (made j up). Cushion covers (made up).