GERMANS ON RATIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 256, 30 October 1939, Page 9

GERMANS ON RATIONS

A RUSH FOR SUPPLIES PEOPLE USE SAVINGS Berlin residents as well as those throughout the Reich first felt Lire pinch of the emergency rationing system when shops opened this morning, reported the Berlin correspondent of the New York Times, on August 2S. Merchants selling products on the restricted lists and those handling items the purchase of which is not yet limited did a rushing business. Customers were anxious to get with their already distributed ration cards the whole quantities of specific products allowed them. Many people, furthermore, bought for storage j-ap-plies of things still being sold without restriction but. which might be limited should open hostilities develop. In some sections of the capital this morning savings banks were subjected to withdrawals by anxious Germans who, recalling the war blockade, were eager to buy reserves of products they might, need should the present crisis □e indefinitely prolonged. Shopkecj c/s, however, exercised caution in their - sales so that their regular customers would not arrive to find the shops sold ! out. Further details of the rationing ’ system reported yesterday were announced through the Reich’s law bulletin to-day. Violations of the new rationing law— which consist princi--1 pally of intentionally buying or scll- ’ ing products on the restricted list ' without a ration card or procuring such a card under false pretences—--3 are punishable by fines up to 1000 ’ marks, or 50.000 marks or more for particularly flagrant cases. Norma] Clothing Needs Normal clothing requirements for men and women as well as normal ■ supplies of household linens and other textiles are defined by law. Purchases to replace such requirements in order to keep them at or bring them up to normal may be made only with special permission from the proper authorities. Purchases of wearing apparel items listed, moreover, are to bo made only for the buyer’s persorr.l use. The only seasonal allowance made is for the gloves and overcoats in summer and winter. The summer “normal” for these two items is not stated. Among the items included in a normal man’s wardrobe are two suits, • two pairs of work trousers and blouses one sweater or sweat suit, 'one raini coat or windbreaker, one winter overcoat, two pairs of winter gloves, three

shirts, two undershirts, three pairs ol i shorts, two night shirts or pyjamas, six ■ pairs of stocking or socks and six ; handkerchiefs. Each person is allowed two pairs of ■ shoes and one pair of slippers, but, special permission is required for shoe ; repairs requiring the use of leather. ' I’or each member of the househoi... i the following quantities are considered ' normal: Four sheets, one blanket <•: | quilt, one mattress, three face or | bath towels, three dish-cloths, two, mop-cloths, ana two dusters or polishing cloths. '