FURNISHING IN BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26471, 27 May 1947, Page 2

FURNISHING IN BRITAIN

STRICT RATIONING A country woman who has sent many food parcels to England and has received a number of letters of appreciation from grateful recipients, recently received a letter from the wife of a Co3l miner, who described the interior of her pre-fabri-cated house. The writer describes the house as “ cosy" and mentions the adequate cupboard room which is not always a feature of modern bungalows. An electric clothes-boiler is installed in the kitchen and when not being used for its primary purpose the flat top serves as a table. The house contains a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, ’and a bathroom. The writer explains that her home is not fully furnished as everyone setting up a home must have units for furniture, bedding and curtains. The maximum allowance of bedding is one mattress, two blankets, and three sheets for each bed in use, and persons who already have some bedding cannot be allowed ' more than the difference between the maximum allowance and what they already possess. Fifteen yards of curtaining was allowed the writer, which made curtains for the living room and bedrooms. The matter of furnishing entailed some thought as to the most necessary articles to be bought. With the allowance of 50 furniture units, the writer was able to buy one table, two easy chairs, two dining chairs, one bed, and one dressing table. Second-hand furniture was available, she said, but although it was obtainable without units it was too expensive for the average man’s income.