The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-02-05

/. What is Point Rationing?

/. What is Point Rationing?
Point Rationing is system OF ra-
tioning a group of similar or relat-
ed commodities which can be sub
stituted for one another in actual
use.
Cereals, for example. Oatmeal,
corn meal, corn flakes, bran flakes
and others are related commodities
and could be substituted for one an
other in the daily diet If necessary.
If these were to be rationed, the
point SYSTEM could be used. Cere-
ais are used merely as an example
there is no shortage of cereals.)
2. why is Point Rationing sys-
tenn necessary?
1t provides fairer and better
system of rationing certain kinds of
goods, such as meats and canned
good, than a straight coupon system
of the type now beng used for gas,
sugar and coffee.
8. How does the Point Rationing
work?
The government will group to-
gether certain number of similar
or related commodities. The same
ration coupons will be used to buy
any of these commodities.
Every one in the country will be
entitled to use a certain number of
points each month out of War Ra-
ton Book No. to buy commodities
in the group. Each consumer may
buy in any store he likes.
In any one group the govern
ment will give each commodity a
point value. For example, a low
point-value will be given to the
commodity which is most plentiful
as compared with the usual supply
and demand for that commodity A
high point-value will be given a
commodity which is much scarcer
than normal, and point value
somewhere in between the two will
be given the commodity where the
supply and demand is expected to
be somewhat less than usual.
Suppose cereals were to be ra-
toned and there were five different
commodities in the group, and sup
pose the supply of corn flakes is
plentiful-wheat flakes less than
the usual supply, oatmeal quite a
bit more scarce than usual, grits
much scarcer than usual, and bran
flakes hardly available at all The
point values assigned might be as
follows:
| Corn fakes point.
Wheat flakes-2 points.
Oatmeal points.
Grits-8 points.
Bran flakes-11 points
Suppose you get 48 points in any
one period to use for buying in this
group. You are fond of bran flakes,
but they are scarce. You can buy
them, but you must use II of your
48 points. Corn flakes, however, are
an acceptable alternative, and the
supply is ample.
To purchase corn fakes costs you
only one point. You may still make
your choice, but the tendency will
be to buy the more plentiful article.
You may spend your points to buy
any of these items you like, but
when you spend all the points for
the ration period you will not be
able to buy any more items in this
group until the next ration period
begins.
Naturally, those who choose to
buy commodities having low point
value will get more for their ration
| than those who choose to use up
their points on high point value
commodities.
The reason for putting low point
value on more plentiful commodi-
ties is that there would be little
danger that the supply would run
out, and to encourage the use of
these plentiful items rather than the
scarce ones.
Under this point rationing system
the government has a further meth
cd of protecting the supply of scarce
commodities. 1t can steer the con-
sumner away from scarce items to-
ward more plentiful items on a
| utOAtAty OdoA6, Va A1OAC OAtCAA IL ACO~
essary, but raising or lowering the
point value to encourage or discour-
age buying.
To enable you to keep up to date
on the point values Of commodities
beng rationed, the store keeper will
be required to post the ration point
value of each of these items in his
store, and keep his list up to date.
Ration values will not have to be
marked on each package. The store
keeper also will have to collect the
vaue in stamps for each purchase
when the sale is made.
This point ration system has been
in effect in England since May,
1941, Housewives there have found
it easy to understand and fair to all
-O-
5-POUND LIMIT FOR PARCELS
TO SAILORS OVERSEE
Parcels weighing more than five
Il