RATIONING SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24945, 18 June 1942, Page 2

RATIONING SCHEME

CONCESSIONS FOR NEWLY-WEDS SPECIAL ISSUE OF COUPONS A plan under which newly-married couples will be provided with coupons to assist them in purchasing the blankets and linen necessary for _ the setting up of a home was explained by Mr J. E. Thomas, the Dominion Rationing Controller, at a meeting ( of Dunedin retailers yesterday. Under the scheme, the local rationing controllers will issue 78 of the M coupons to every couple immediately on the production O; tluir marriage certificate. Provision is made, however, for brides to select the goods they require before the wedding takes place. Mr L. A. Doolan, president of thff Otago Retailers' Association, explained last night that a prospective bride could have the goods she intended to purchase set asicb on the lay-by system, and could collect them when the coupons were available. It was advisable. Mr Doolan said, for women who were to be married shortly to do this now. as many of the goods they might want to buy might not be procurable later on. EXPLANATION BY MINISTER PROVISION FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 17. Explaining the scheme for the issue of extra coupons to newly-married, couples, the Minister of Supply, Mr D. G. Sullivan, said to-night that it was expected that these would be available tor distribution early next week. He said that 78 coupons would also be issued to couples married since the introduction of the clothing rationing order on May 29. The extra coupons would be available for the purchase of the blankets ,and linen necessary for the setting up of a home, and the mar-. riage certificate would have to be produced, together with the wife's rationing book. The same provisions, the Minister said, would apply to members of the armed services returning from overseas who were married immediately prior to their leaving on active service and who desired to set up homes of their own on discharge from the services. In these cases the discharge papers would also have to be produced. The Minister added that it had been found inadvisable to permit prospective married.couples to take delivery of the goods prior to actual marriage. A. scheme was at present being arranged by the New Zealand Federation of Retail Drapers, under which blankets, sheets, tablecloths, and other linen would be set aside by retailers on account of prospective brides, and the goods would be released as soon after 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. ( The Minister further announced that special cards of coupons for prisoners of war were now being issued to next-of-kin through the Prisoners of War Inquiry Offices.