Evening star., 1942-09-24
21% Cut in Delivery
OF Meat for Civilians
Begins in October
Public to Be Asked to
Hold Down Purchases
Pending Rotionine
BY JAMES T.. NEWTON.

oCAlScINS VI ulcdC 1OI ClNllldIi
consumption will be reduced 81
per cent below 1941 levels in the
last quarter of the year the
War Production Boards Foods
Requirements Committee an
nounced today. The action was
taken to make certain adequate
supplies for Army, Navy and
lease-lend uses.
Secretary Of Agriculture Wickard,
chairman OF the committee, who
made the announcement, accom-
panied 1t with an appeal to civilians
voluntarily to hold consumption at
AZ pounds Of meat per person per
week. This limitation Is held nee
essary to prevent serious distribu-
ton situation until actual rationing
can be placed in effect early next
year.
The amount OF meat available for
civilians will be controlled by limit
ing total packer deliveries into pub
lie consumption. The following per-
centages of total packer deliveries
during the final quarter Of last year
will be allowed for civilian consump-
ton: Beef and veal, 80 per cent:
lamb and mutton, IS per cent; pork,
IS per cent.
Meanwhile, it was learned that
the Once Of Price Administration
plans to handle meat rationing on
the point basis rather than through
use OF coupons. In this way the
supply Of various meats can be con-
trolled. For example, should an
acute shortage arise in beef because
Of over-buying, the number OF points
required from 3 ration book to pur-
chase 4 pound of beef can be In
creased in proportion to other meats.
Then, should q consumer insist
In using his weekly allotment OF
points entirely for beef, he will OBJ
tain considerable less poundage than
II he bought lamb or pork. The
weekly meat allotment under ra-
tioning probably will be 2Ha pounds.
The ration book of the consumer
Also will be charged with the amount
of meat ordered in restaurant or
hotel. in the same way that pur-
chases in q market will be deducted
from the allotment. Unless this
step is taken, officials fear the ef1ect
of rationing will be DESTROYED IN
these days when the purchasing
power Of the average person is so
greatly increased.
Only adults and adolescents Will
be entitled to full rations OF meat,
1t was understood. A system where
by q child under years will re-
ceive q quarter ration, those from
4 to Il a half ration is being worked
out. Allowances also will be made
for invalids, old people and vege-
tarians in households. These Will
receive less than full ration. Men
engaged in manual labor are ex-
pected to get more than the 2E2-
pound weekly allotments. {
OPA recently ordered 10000, 900
all.purpose ration books from print-
ers and these will be used for meat
rationine, The books will not be
ready for distribution to rationing
boards until nearly Christmas.
The registration for meat ration
ing is expected to involve q great
deal more detailed work than sugar.
Forms will be more like those used
for gasoline rationing, an official
said, in which the applicant Will be
asked to explain specifically by
whom the ration is to be consumed
age. physical condition, type OF
work, etc.
The limitation in amount OF meat
available for civilians in October
November and December this year
is expected to create serious distri-
button problems. The Government
led by the Agriculture Department
and OPA, is expected to carry on ar
intensive campaign until ratlonlnt
is set up, in which the public vii
be urged to reduce consumption o
meat voluntarily.
Secretary Wickard said limitation
orders effectuating the policy OF
restricted civilian meat dehverie
will be drafted and issued by OPA
In actual operation, he added, TN
order may not result in as much a
a21 per cent cut, since adjustment
will be made when necessary t
allow for changes during the pas
wear In the pattern Of distribute
and the wartime food requirement
Of different areas.
Mr.. Wickard commented that tn
III pound allowance to which pei
sons are asked to limit themselvt
'is entirely adequate for good nutr
ton" He explained the new steI
taken in the wartime meat progral
by saying:
During the coming year America
farms will produce and packlr
houses will handle over $4,000 900 ,0'
pounds-a greater amount Of me
than ever before in history.
sBut the demand for this me
will be even greater than the hui
supply.
Three weeks ago we estimat
Army, Navy and lease-lend needs
5000 600 900 pounds. This has M
gone to $500 900 900 pounds. Civili
consumers would take more tn
q ,O00, 900 900 pounds If 1t were ava
able. The total supply is "A, 900 900 (
pounds. The total demand is 27,50
OO0, 900 pounds. There must be shs
ing Of the supply
The problem faced, the Secrets
said, Is to make sure that
1880 900 900 pounds of meat will
shared fairly among all civilia
and this can only be done by ratio
ing. He said the wartime m
supply for civilians would usually
regarded as normal. The dema
now, however, is abnormal, "beca'
OF high buying power, coupled "
. decreasing supply Of most thu
to buy"
The Secretary then explained h
the allotment OF 2la pounds
person each week was arrived
He said 1t was necessary that c.
sumption be held to. this fig
whether a person ate at home OF
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