RATIONING PLAN APPROVED

Southland Times, Issue 24757, 30 May 1942, Page 4

RATIONING PLAN APPROVED

Smooth Introduction In City

The rationing of clothes .and footwear was introduced smoothly in the city yesterday, and reports obtained from various stores were to the effect that business was much as usual for a market day. A few shoppers made early calls at the shops to inquire if they would be allowed to buy without coupons certain goods which they had contemplated purchasing for some time, but the majority of. shoppers accepted the position philosophically.

A number of country visitors who had left home before news reached them about rationing were in difficulties because they did not have their coupon books with them, but a fair volume of trade was done with those able to produce coupons. The manager of a large city store stated that he thought the trade generally would welcome the introduction of rationing. Recently there had been a marked rush on goods, and the shops would soon have been faced with difficulty in meeting the demand. Less goods were available than usual, and distinct shortages might have occurred as a result of a certain amount of panic buying and sheer hoarding. Under the rationing scheme every person could be assured that he would be able to get his requirements whatever his financial position, but if there had been no rationing stocks would probably have been so depleted that persons without cash reserves at present might have had difficulty in securing clothing. A boot retailer carrying on a large business expressed similar views. He said he did not think the rationing would make any difference to his business. He did not sell goods on approval, and consequently would have no difficulty in securing coupons for each transaction.

POINTS CLARIFIED GOVERNMENT’S ACTION COMMENDED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 29. Questions relating to the application of the rationing scheme were answered by the Rationing Controller, Mr J. E. Thomas. He said that although coupons were transferable as between members of a family, they were . not transferable as between other individuals. Coupons unused at the end of the first six months would be negotiable in the second period. This would enable coupons to be saved for such purpose as a suit or costume. Whether the system would apply to suits and costumes already ordered had not been determined finally and was being considered. Asked whether the system would apply to hotels and institutions for household linen, Mr Thomas said these were collective consumers and would work under a special arrangement. They bought most of their requirements wholesale and it would be necessary for them to obtain special permits. A statement covering collective consumers would be issued later. “The Government is to be congratulated on instituting a system clothing rationing before the supply position becomes any worse and also on instituting it in a maimer which avoided the buying stampedes and rumours which existed in other countries before rationing came into operation,” said the secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association, Mr D. I. Macdonald, today. The introduction of rationing would ensure that stocks would be spread equitably over the community. Retailers would be relieved of the responsibility and existing and reduced future stocks would be conserved and last longer. DRAPERS CONSULTED The decision of the Government to introduce a rationing scheme for clothing, footwear and household linen was reached only after the closest collaboration with executive members of the New Zealand Drapers’ Federation, stated the president, Mr B. L. Blodorn, in an interview at Timaru. “While the scheme has been under consideration both by the Government and members of the trade for some time, it was only within the last week or two that active conferences took place and a working basis arrived at,” he said. “Because of the necessity for conserving stocks, members of the trade throughout New Zealand welcome the present scheme. It will solve many of the problems with which retailers have been faced in endeavouring to ensure a just distribution of the goods available, and it should also be welcomed by the general public in guaranteeing all a fair share of the stocks on hand and stocks that come to hand from time to time. I must emphasize that rationing will not create stocks, but it will enable a wider and more equitable distribution to be made among all sections of the community. Some confusion has been evident in interpreting what goods come under the various classifications, particularly those coming under household linen. This, however, is being rapidly overtaken, and the whole scheme should be working uniformly within the next few days.” Mr Blodorn added that family coupons could be pooled for the purchase of goods coming under the scheme.