Ration Books Issued Total Over 57,000

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1945, Page 4

Ration Books Issued Total Over 57,000

So far more than 57.000 ration books have been issued through offices in Taranaki, and although the final requirements of the province are not known, it is estimated that there are about 4.000 more books to be claimed. Coupons for butter, sugar and tea in the old books expired at the end of last week. Applications for books continued to come in steadily during the last week, but at most offices a rush was experienced at the end of the week. In many offices the demand for books for children between five and ten years of age exceeded expectations, and at the Opunake post office officials used adult books, deleting those parts not applicable to children. At New Plymouth 18,370 books had been issued by midday on Saturday. The total number last year was about 22,000. At the Fitzroy post office about 3000 books have been issued, and it is expected that about 150 more will be claimed. The number of, books claimed at the Waitara post office by midday on Saturday was 3511. Central Taranaki. At the Stratford post office 6809 books had been issued by Saturday. A further I 1500 books had been issued at the Midhirst, Toko and Te Wera post offices, bringing the total for the district to 8309. About 700 books were still to be claimed. The demand for the books during the fortnight was steadv. The total number of books issued at Eltham was 1270 by midday on Saturday. From Tuesday to Saturday 1070 books were distributed, compared with 200 the week before. The total issued at the Inglewood post office was about 3850, and 500 more books were expected to be claimed. During the week a considerable rush was experienced, but applicants had not been calling for their books as fast as was expected. Of the total jssue of 280A ration books the Opunake post office had issued 2662 by noon on Saturday. The highest day's total last week was Tuesday when approximately 420 books were issued. Ration book figures for South Taranaki for the week with those estimated remaining to be issued in parenthesis are: Kaponga, 797 (200); Waverley, 869 (179); Hawera, including Normanby, Okaiawa, 10,400 (1400); Manaia, 1024 (300); Patea. 3160 (200). With the issue of 2124 books last week the total claimed at the Taumarunui post office to date is 4463. ITie estimated number of books yet to be issued is 500. The greatest number issued on one day last week was 514 on Thursday, and on Tuesday nearly 500 were Issued.