AUSTRALIAN RATIONS

Grey River Argus, 3 June 1942, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN RATIONS

CLOTHES & TEA Rubber Shortage [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.? CANBERRA, June 2. The - Federal Supply Minister Hon. Mr. Beasley stated the Allies have lost 90 per cent, of the world’s rubber sources. A drive for rubber, hanging from 'hotFwater bottles to discarded motor tyres, would be started soon.

Regulations will be gazetted shortly restricting the sale of bicycle tyres to owners of bicycles used for war and civil purposes. Heavier restrictions on the sale of tyres for motor-cars and trucks will be . imposed to-day, when regulations setting up a system of tyre priorities will be gazetted. Preference in the supply of tyres will be given 'to vehicles used for war and .essential civil needs. As the supply decreases the .priority, system will practically eliminate sales of tyres for pleasure vehicles.

. Clothing sales, throughout Australia have 'returned to normal, and the public js. now awaiting the, announcement. of the cupon scale, which is expected to be made this week. In Sydney. keen interest is evident here in dl‘details of New-Zealand’s ’clothes rationing. The introduction

bf the system without -prior warning is generally |. The Director of Rationing is Dr. ■H. ’Coombs, a senior Treasury official and a 'doctor of philosophy. He is father bf a young family, and is therefore generally conceded to be thoroughly conversant With all -the problems of . family clothing. .Australian ration books, to be distributed on June 14 .and 15, /have been ; -printed, and contain .268 coupons. Though no plans have been made for i Rationing . commodities other than tea and clo-thes, it is stated that a proportion of .the coupons is for oth,,'e!r. commodities lor (articles which may yet be rationed. Identity, or aliens’ registration cards must be produced before ration books will be issued. Retail stores Will be able to write cheques for. clothes ration coupons, when buying, from factories and warehous:es. The Commonwealth .and trading banks having agreed to receive coupons .in bulk from retailers, the banks will issue certificates to retailers, showing the amount of coupons they have lodged. When ordering, a retailer will produce this certificate, write . his cheque, authorising the bank to pay the warehouse the required number of coupons. -These will in turn be passed to the .Clothing Commission Which will collect and cheque the coupons.