USE OF CLOTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 17, 20 July 1942, Page 6

USE OF CLOTH

RATIONING SCHEME

SPECIAL CONSUMERS

The clothing rationing scheme has been extended to include consumers whose needs have not previously .been covered. An announcement by the Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan), after consultation with the Rationing Controller '(Mr. J.! E. Thomas), emphasised the importance of the utmost care and economy being exercised in the use of cloth and household linen .for com-J mercial purposes. It was possible, he said, to authorise the purchase, of- only urgent replacements and essential business requirements. ■ The announcement covers the following classes of consumers:—' Commercial Consumers.—Rationing officers are authorised to issue permits to cover the needs of poultry farmers, tobacco growers, bookbinders, factories, and all-other commercial users.who rer quire rationed cloth and materials v 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. . Small Manufacturers.—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 as they are made. When the garments or articles J 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 Paul, 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 permit, 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 gpods coupon-free if they have been donated remains in operation, but does not apply in respect of articles made from materials purchased under permit. Collective Consumers.—Hotels, board-ing-houses, orphanages, hospitals, apartment-houses, and other such collective consumers will be permitted to make essential replacements to their I stocks of household 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. Losses by Fire or Theft and Cases of Hardship.—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.