BRIDES' COUPONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24303, 18 June 1942, Page 2

BRIDES' COUPONS

LINEN AND BLANKETS

PROVISION FOR SOLDIERS (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday

Provisions have been made by the Rationing Controller, Mr. J. E. Thomas, for coupons for newly-married couples for the purchase of blankets and household linen, and it is anticipated that these will be available for distribution earlv next week.

Announcing this, the Minister of Supply, the Hon. 1). G. Sullivan, said 78 coupons would be issued in future to every newly-married couple, as well as to those who had married since the introduction of the clothing rationing order on May 2!). The extra coupons would be available for the purchase of blankets and linen necessary for setting up house, and marriage certificates would have to be produced, together with the wives' ration books. The same provisions will apply to members of the armed services returning from overseas who were married immediately prior to their leaving on active service and who desire to set lip homes of their own on discharge from the services after returning to the Dominion. In these cases, discharge papers also will have to be produced. The Minister added that it had been found inadvisable to permit/ prospective married couples to take delivery of these items prior to actual marriage. A scheme was at present being finalised by the New Zealand Federation of Retail Drapers whereby blankets, sheets, tablecloths and other household linen would be set a.side by retailers on account of prospective brides and the goods would be released as soon after the marriage as the coupons were produced to complete the purchase. Mr. Sullivan also announced that the special allowance of 26 coupons to expectant mothers would be available for distribution from next week. Special cards of coupons for prisoners of war were now being issued to the next-of-kin through the Prisoners of War inquiry offices.

POLICING -THE SCHEME VIEWS OF RETAILF.RS The organised retail trade was determined that the rationing of footwear and clothing should .be properly policed, said the secretary of the Auckland Federation of Drapers and Allied Trades, Mr. R. M. Barker, last night. There was 110 doubt that some country stores of the type that handled a little of everything were allowing rationed goods to go out without coupons. The federation bad also been informed that some firms which were not strictly retail businesses were selling heavy boots to farmers without coupons. Inquiries were being; made into all reported breaches, said -Air. Barker, and, where sufficient evidence could be found of a "black market" operating, the federation would have no hesitation in assisting in a prosecution.

PREVENTING BLACK MARKET STEPS IN WHANG AT? EI (0,C.) WHANCAREI, Wednesday The Whangarei branch of the Auckland Provincial Drapers and Allied Retailers' Association, after conferring with other retailers affected, appointed a special committee to deal with problems arising from the rationing system. They were also requested to investigate any reports of district retailers selling goods without coupons. Members reported several instances which bad come under their notice. Advice was received from the president of the Auckland association that the Rationing Controller, Mr. J. E. Thomas, was relying 011 the retailers themselves to administer the scheme and prevent the growth of a black market. The .secretary, Mr. W. J. Court, who had just returned from the Wellington conference with Mr. Thomas, said the controller would not be dealing with individual firms, but directly through the association.

HOLDING OF POTATOES AUCKLAND CHARGE DENIED SHIPMENTS FROM SOUTH (P.A.) CHKISTCHURCH, Wednesday Allegations from Auckland that farmers in the South Island were withholding potatoes to take advantage of the July increment under the price order were denied to-day by the Director of Primary Production, Mr. 11. B. Tennent. At the first, meeting to-day of the Potato Advisory Committee set up by the Minister of Agriculture, said Mr. Tennent, the Auckland statements were fully discussed. In the opinion of the committee, the allegations had no foundation in fact, and were obviously inspired by one or two individuals in the Auckland trade. "There is no holding back of potatoes by South Island growers," said Mr. Tennent. "There is a certain amount of difficulty in securing adequate shipping space, but at the present time considerable consignments are on their way to Auckland. The committee pointed out that to date 120,000 sacks in excess of the quantity for the same period last year had been sent to the North Island owing to the virtual failure of the North Island main crops. "AHer having thoroughly investigated the position, I feel certain the statements emanating from Auckland are quite unwarranted."

GOODS TRANSPORT PROBLEMS IN NORTHLAND (0.C.) KAITAIA, Wednesday A round table conference held at Kaitaia discussed with the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr. E. J. Phelan, the question of a road service from the Okaihau railhead for goods transport to Kaitaia. Wherever possible the carriage of bulk goods must be by boat, with some provision for emergency road trips, said Mr. Phelan. A large operator stated his preparedness to dispense with the community truck system. By running two trips weekly with a six-wheeled vehicle, and backloading. the firm would he able to handle ordinary freights and service storekeepers and farmers who would otherwise be completely cut off. The Licensing Authority agreed to a trial of two trips weekly on stated days. Mr. Phelan expressed the opinion that difficulties in the Ifokianga and other districts cotdd also he overcome without too much inconvenience. PRISONER RECAPTURED (0.C.) ROTORUA, Wednesday The prisoner, John Rikiti, aged 32, who escaped from the Rotorua lock-up exercise yard on Sunday while awaiting transfer to the Auckland prison, has been recaptured. RECLAIMING WASTE (0.C.) CHKISTCHURCH, Wednesday "We aj-e getting daily evidence that Christehurch is becoming more and more reclamation-minded," said the secretary of the Canterbury Reclamation Board, Mr. John Stewart, in presenting the report of the organising committee. "We are constantly receiving telephone calls —on the average one every day—from city firms who normally burn their various forms of waste, offering material. In one case it consisted of a large quantity of clippings of silk, and in another case Gin. and 7in. lengths of wire." Another speaker suggested that the lengths of wire could bo readily utilised for stapleo.