The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-07-03
Housewives
Warned To
UseBoards

Negro housewives and heads OF
families, civic. church and frate--
nal groups should make more ex-
tensive use OF the facilities OF local
War Price and Rs;ioning boards if
price control. rent control and rat
Joining are 10 work for them. the
Group Services Branch OF the Or
Ace OF Price Administration stated
this week after survey OF Negro
communities in number OF cities
in the East, Southeast and Middle
West.
Members OF the OPA national
staff, recently returned from field
trips in these areas, report that
many Negro consumers realize they
are not getting full value from rat
ion stamps and money, but that
they are reluctant TO make COM
plants TO local boards.
In all regions il was reported
that some small retail stores in low
income areas often fail 10 comply
with OPA regulations because GUS
toners and proprietors are pushed
for time and are uninformed. Com
bined with the common practice OF
leaving ration books with the store
keeper for stamps to be removed
after each purchase. the situation
often leaves customers without suf-
fcien: red and blue stamps before
the end OF a ration period.
In meetings in eastern cities
where there was public discussion
o. consumer problems. il was
brought out that many Negro con-
suners FELT that the function OF
.locsl boards was confined 10 giving
OF: application forms. II was the
impression OF some that so much
Of the boards time vas consumed
n this way that little vas left 10
investigate complaints.
An OPA representative pointed
out tina: one OF the most important
jobs o. local War Price and Ration
ing boards is the receipt and in
vestigaion OF reports OF suspected
violations. However. the OPA can
only offer protection il customers
cooperate by taking their COM
plants 20 he boards.
The method OF registering a COM
plant is simple, the OPA represen-
;a;ive pointed out. When a charge
above the. legal ceiling is suspected
the Customer may ask for a receipt
This receipt must show the name
and address o. the store. the date
OF purchase. the article purchased
and the price paid. The customer
takes the receipt 10 the price panel
q, the local board. or 10 the Com
munty Service member whose Job
!; is 10 furnish information 10 indi-
vdusls and groups in the commun-
i;y on price control, rent control
ard rstioning.
In some areas where such prac-
tees as overcharging in points. TAX
ing ration stamps for non-rstioned
items and trading in loose" stamps
have been discovered among small
retail and company stores whose
customers are chiefly Negroes. it
was again emphasized that the
Community Service member and
the Community Service committee
O, The local board should be CON-
suited as 10 the proper remedy In
many cities the OPA has appointed
Negro community service members
70 supplement the work OF the local
board.
The Group Services staff sum-
married the survey by pointing out
several phases OF OPAs program
Wh.ch Negro groups night utilize
Tor their own protection against a
rise in the cost OF living. These IN
Guided:
/. More volunteer participation
in he word Of locs. War Price and
Rauan!ng boards. so that more
so.rees OF information VII. be open
10 them.
:. Closer item between Negro
organizations and Community Ser
wee members OF locs. boards
3. Development OF the hsbi, OF
reporting suspected violations Of
OPA regulations by retail stores.
4. Individual and group educa-
ton on the rules Of price control.
rent control and rsuoning.