Booklet
Veterans Memorial Military Museum
Tous droits réservés.
| Nom de l'objet : | Booklet |
| Type de l'objet : | Booklet |
| Catégorie de l'objet : | Communication Artefacts |
| Sous-catégorie de l'objet : | Documentary Artefacts |
| Matériaux : | Fibre, Paper |
| Numéro de catalogue : | 1985.001.017a-b |
| Numéro d'accession : | 1985.001.017a-b |
| Date de début de production : | 1943 |
| Date de fin de production : | 1946 |
| Description : | Canadian Ration Book(s); paper, white, navy, brown; a) owner: Elizabeth Mackenzie, Kensington, PEI. ; eight pages intact with stamps, first two pages have been used and removed from booklet, back page is a mail in card for a change of address; b) owner: Fredrick Mackenzie, Kensington, PEI, first two pages have been used and removed; remaining pages include one page of butter stamps, four pages of Spare A stamps, two pages of Space C stamps; attached with clear tape to a butter stamp a token for "Meat"; each full sheet contains 13 stamps |
| Commentaires : | Shorty after the start of WWII, rationing was introduced in Canada to limit the use of imported food and to free up supplies for the military and their allies. The first item to be put into the restricted category was sugar. Beginning late January 1942, each person was allowed 12 ounces per week. By May it was down to 8 ounces and tea and coffee were also on the shortage list. Consumers were asked to cut tea consumption by ½ and coffee by ¼. Shortly thereafter coupon rationing for the above foods was introduced. Not only households were obliged to comply " restaurants and other places serving food also had to abide by the new limits. Householders filled out applications and then waited for their ration books, which were mailed out across Canada on Monday 31 August 1942. Each book contained not only coupons for tea, coffee, and sugar, but also spare ones in the likelihood that other commodities would be placed under control. Butter was added to the list in December with each person being limited to ½ pound per week. Islanders were slow to apply for their books. An article published in a local paper was titled "Local Ration Office Has its Troubles." According to M. F. Graves, the Rationing Officer for PEI, "there are still a great many people just beginning to realize that they must possess a card before they can obtain sugar, tea or coffee." The new ration book was described in the press as having 17 pages with sheets of green, pink, orchid, buff and grey paper. Each coupon resembled a stamp and would have a small maple leaf in every corner. As the first day of distribution approached "19 February 1943 " more details about the books were revealed. People were apprised that the serial number from the front cover of Ration Book No.1 was to be an individual's identification for the duration of the war. These original books had to be shown before the second one could be issued. Members of the armed forces could apply for ration books while they were on leave or after discharge. Service personnel could also apply for liquor rations despite provincial prohibition. Ration Book No.2 had dates printed on the back of every stamp, the first to become due 6 March 1943. The first ration book expired 31 March. The used ration coupons became the responsibility of banks across Canada. They were charged with "acting as an agent of the Ration Administration, Wartime Prices and Trade Board, under carefully defined regulations." The ration book contained an application for canning and preserving that had to be sent to local boards before 15 April. Extra sugar for the important household task of making jams and pickles was provided if an application was submitted. Meat was the next food item to be controlled. A ration of two pounds per person per week became effective in May. Consumers needed to present small blue tokens to receive the rationed portion from a meat dealer. On 4 May "Meatless Tuesday" for public eating-places was introduced. Anyone keeping meat in a cold storage locker had to declare it by 30 June. On top of these controls, it became mandatory for butchers to follow new rules for cutting meat. It wasn't long before Ration Book No.3 was introduced, overlapping with the second book, which was to expire 31 December 1943. Just two days after the distribution, more items were added to the list " maple syrup products, table syrups, molasses, apple or honey butter, and canned fruits. On 23 August, 1943 jams, jellies, marmalades, and honey were put in the rationed category. By October evaporated milk was just for priority use. An amendment in November 1943 to the Wartime Prices and Trade Board ration order legalized the exchange of rationed foods. Small quantities could be traded among neighbours, something that probably had been going on undetected for quite some time. On 17 January 1944, canned salmon made the ration list and on 1 July 1944, canned blueberries, blueberry pie filling, and canned crab apples were added. At some point cheese was also included. Still more books were issued. Book No. 4 came into use 13 April 1944 and Book No.5 was distributed between 14-21 of October the same year. The latter was to cover a period of fifty weeks, the longest of any issue. Books 3 and 4 expired 31 December 1944. Late in 1944, sugar rationing became even more stringent. An article in the press revealed the need for sugar in the production of shells and bombs and molasses for synthetic rubber. Rationing continued after the war ended. Meat, which had been taken off the list in February 1944, was back on in September 1945. The need for an increased supply for devastated Europe was urgent. The last Ration Book was issued in September 1946. http://www.wyattheritage.com/homefront/main.asp?level1=government&level2=materials&level3=food&level4=rationing |
| Établissement : | Veterans Memorial Military Museum |
| Ville de l'établissement : | Kensington |
| Province de l'établissement : | Prince Edward Island |
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