Auctioneers Must Now Collect Coupons

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 60, 12 March 1943, Page 5

Auctioneers Must Now Collect Coupons

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Mar. 11. An amendment to the Rationing Emergency Regulations gazetted to-day makes three important alterations in regulations. Auctioneers are now classed as traders and sales of goods made by them are subject to the same control as the sale of rationed goods by other traders. Auctioneers are now required to collect coupons for all rationed goods and may not auction tea or sugar without permission. Unauthorised persons will not be permitted to supply sugar to a manufacturer and manufacturers may not procure sugar from consumers for use in their business. The third provision increases the fee charged for the replacement of lost ration books. Commenting on the regulations tonight the Minister of Supply (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) said there was no reason why auctioneers should not require the surrender of coupons the same as other traders. As far as supplies from consumers to manufacturers was concerned, he said this in effect increased the manufacturers’ allocation which was fixed at a figure calculated on the previous consumption. The growing practice of manufacturers securing sugar from consumers had resulted in sugar being diverted from the point of its intended use and this in some measure militated against the satisfactory operation of the rationing scheme.