Evening star., 1942-06-07
The Travellers Notebook
Vacation w Cards and Vacation Ration of Gas
Proposed, Although New O. p A. Plan Might
Solve Summers RecreotionoI Trips

EFFORT as testified to by high Gov
ernment officials and medical au-
thorities, then q travel priority
should be issued and vacations
should be put on systematic basis.
THE type OF civilian furlough
proposed would encourage public
acceptance Of travel restrictions If
and when it is necessary to impose
them. 1t would reconcile conflict
ing opinions between high Govern
ment officials who advocate vaca-
tionS on one hand, and those who
would restrict travel and gasoline
sales on the other, as it would per-
NIT rationing of travel and at the
same time permit an annual vaca-
ton away from everyday environ
ment. Such change of scene has
proved necessary for morale in mill
tary service"
Other advantages Of the vaca-
ton priorities plan as described by
Mr.. Warren include:
lit would cause the general pub
lie to accept more favorably rigid
Nation-w gasoline and travel re-
strictions, for it would at least guar
antee an open season" of two weeks
to be looked forward to.
2. Insure all-out high capacity
work for so weeks of the year.
g. Further stimulate conservation
Of rubber. Proof verifying this may
be found in the national game and
fish conservation program where
poaching has been almost entirely
eliminated by few weeks of open
season.
4"Level of" vacation period, and
make a two-week vacation the uni
versal maximum.
5. Help avoid further economic
dislocation by permitting countless
sections Of non-defense areas to OBJ
tain some business, life saver to
small filling stations.
The Virginia plan of vacation
ration" has been presented to Gov
eminent officials by N. Clarence
OIlllll, Clldll lioii Va VIC Virginia
Conservation Commission. The let
ter follows. in part:
"Al of us want to do everything
possible to help our country win
this war. 1t is in this spirit that
we present this plan.
According to the best informa-
ton available, there will be such an
overwhelming demand for the use
of trains, buses, planes and such
steamship lines which are still op-
Grating that these facilities will be
taxed beyond their ability.
I'm order to relieve the pressure
on these modes Of transportation
during the peak months and to
carry out the spirit of your own
thought on the need for vacations,
1t would be tremendously helpful II,
when the new system of gasoline ra-
tioning Is put into effect, each mo-
torist could be allowed what might
be called a vacation ration BY
that We mean that over and above
the normal ration, each motorist
will be given, let us say, for ex-
ample, 20 gallons of gasoline so he
and his family may go to a nearby
resort or place for a vacation.
This proposal is not being made
with the view of reopening promis-
cuous interstate motor travel. We
realize such travel, except in the
interest of essential business and
the war effort, is in the main elimi-
mated until conditions change. We
are simply advocating that mo-
toriStS, once year, be given enough
gasoline for a one-family vacation
trip near home"
Under the new plan proposed
by OPA for gas rationing, each mo-
torist would receive an A card of
48 coupons, which he would have
to make last a year. Each coupon
would permit purchase of a certain
number of gallons, and preliminary
estimates range up to nearly gal
Ions per coupon. In addition to
this, motorists who need their cars
for transportation to and from work
would receive another card, in. the
B category. The B cards would
contain is coupons, which would be
used up in three months and then
another obtained, for use in the
second quarter year.
Eastern resorts, supported by the
acknowledgment of high Govern
ment officials that vacations have
a. valuable place in morale and
physical and mental fitness, saw
hopeful signs in q first glance at
the new plan. 1t would give every
car, according to preliminary esti-
mates, about 3h gallons q week for
do-aS-you-please driving. It is little
more than the present A card al
lows, but 1t does release for recrea-
tiona1 driving the car Of the person
who conscientiously tried to esti-
mate his high-necessity driving &C
curately for one Of the three B
cards and, In cases, has to squeeze
his mileage to get by. There is
also a psychological freedom in the
knowledge that certain amount of |
gasoline can be used as thriftily
Or as freely as the motorist wishes.
It Is a foregone conclusion that |
most families will budget q vacation
rip or two in their A card allot-
ment.
But Interpretations and policy to-
ward granting new B card coupons
inter the picture. II rationtng on