Mexborough and Swinton Times February 2, 1918
Food Shortages and Rationing
Lord Rhondda (the Minister of Food Contriol) (picture from wikipedia) is issuing a circular to Food Control Committees on the subject of prosecution for food hoarding. He emphasises the importance of pressing the substantial penalties and for confiscation and imprisonment in suitable cases.
The Food Commissioner has told the Trade and Labour Council that they bacon and ham are “simply not to be had at present.”
Millions of pounds of bacon and cheese have been sunk recently – for which the Germans are responsible.
There is some talk of demanding the repeal of the poaching prevention act unless rabbits are sent freely into the market.
The Swinton Food Control Committee has made several unsuccessful applications for an emergency supply of frozen meat.
At the incidents of the Full Commissioner, a special food control committee has been appointed for Denaby and Conisbrough.
It is stated that the Ministry of food are going to supply food for the producer to the consumer, and every area, will have a supply officer, and the Ministry of setting up clearing houses so that the supply officer for any area will be able to commandeer a given supply for that area.
The Ministry of Food states that the recent diminution of the supply rabbits was largely due to the bad weather.
It is sufficient tonnage is available, 3,000,000 lbs of tea will be imported from China this year.
Lord Rhondda does not know yet whether it will be possible this year to make allotment of sugar to small fruit growers.
Mr Hall has obtained a supply of Nestle’s milk for infant feeding. This week he has been inundated with queues for butter cards – and information.
The Mexborough butter cards have nearly all been distributed and registered and at the present time a number of applications for milk priority tickets are being dealt with. It is hoped that the rationing of butter or margarine will be to some extent in force in Mexborough this weekend.
The Mexborough Food Control Committee has agreed, upon urgent representations of Mr Snow of Adwick, and of residents of the Highwoods district of Roman Terrace, to include Adwick on Dearne and Barnburgh in the scheme, subject to the approval of the Doncaster Rural Food Control Committee.
The Swinton Food Control Committee have agreed to hold a joint meeting with the Mexborough Food Control Committee tonight (Friday) for the purpose of considering the rationing of margarine or butter in the two districts. It is absolutely necessary and in the general public interest that these two authorities should act together, and in an amicable and mutually helpful spirit. They held a joint meeting last December, and at that meeting they adopted a joint ration and distribution scheme, but it was held up by the Food Commissioner.
The Mexborough Committee subsequently decided upon the Barnsley scheme, for which sanction was obtained. After they had done so sanction for the original scheme came through.
Mexborough have already issued margarine cards, but Swinton can still come into line without disorganising the scheme now almost in force. The local committees are not to blame. They have been helpless in the matter. We hope the way will be entirely clear for a joint rationing scheme for all articles of food on which there is a shortage after tonight’s meeting of the Mexborough and Swinton committees.
Butter, margarine and meat shortages at Swinton are to be met by a card system, to be put into operation in the next few days. The cars will state the number of family, and he found must register at one shop only, of their own choice. Retailers are to make out a register of their customers, and to cancel each week the date on the card at the time of purchase.
On and after Wednesday, February 6, no personal be entitled to purchase meat in the urban district of Swinton, without having previously registered with the retail butcher. The Barnsley British Cooperative Butchering Department will this week pool with the Swinton butchers.
A special meeting of residents of New Adwick area was held last Saturday to consider the serious problem re food supply.
Messrs J.W.Hall, Salkeld and W. Simms were appointed a deputation to wait upon Councillor Snow and the Mexboro Food Control Committee. Councillor R. Snow accompanied the deputation to the Mexboro’ Food Control Committee. A special meeting of all the residents was held in the Primitive Schoolroom on Thursday last to receive the report of the deputation.
Mr. Salkeld presided. Mr. J. W. Hall repo-r-ted that the Mexboro’ Food Control Committee were quite willing to take Adwick and Barnburgh uuder their control subject to the approval of the Rural District Council of Doncaster and the Food Commissioners. A vote of thanks was accorded to thedeputation for services rendered. –
Mr. J. W. Hall was appointed food representative of the district of New Adwick, supported by a committee .of six, namely Messrs Salkeld, Simms, Roberts, Seagraves, -Mawson and Sandford.
Wednesday in the Wath district is to be observed as a meatless day, when no meat of any description is to be sold. This is according to the official order given elsewhere.
There were many meatless homes at Wath on Sunday. The supply for Sunday and during this week was too inadequate altogether. The public were rationed as far as possible, and while they are asked to observe Wednesday as a meatless day, we are afraid many have had a meatless- fortnight.
For this week. so far, four beasts have come into the district. The butchers are anxious to serve all their customers but are severely handicapped. Although Wath was promised a supply of Colonial mutton last Saturday evening to make up a supply to people who had been unable to procure meat, this did not arrive. Naturally great disappointment.
If Wath and district readers will turn to onr advertising Collins they will see the day during next week on which they can be supplied at the Town Hall, Wath, with official ration cards for butter and margarine.
Choose a set apart for Brampton and West Melton, including Barnsley Road down to the police station. On Wednesday from the police station to station Lane, including Nero and householders in the sciences et cetera from the Police Station to Station Lane. On Thursday from Station lane to natural, including, of course Sandymount and Gore Hill, Midland cottages et cetera.
Householders are requested to take their individual sugar cards and nonregistered people their ration papers, between the hours of 9 AM and 6 PM on each of the above date