asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state what steps should be taken by persons who are unable to get their normal ration of tea, in order that this may be secured to them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tea Ration.
Any householder who is unable to obtain the due weekly tea ration should communicate with my Department stating the name and address of the shopkeeper with whom he is registered for tea, when the matter will be investigated.
asked the Minister for Supplies whether it is possible for him, having regard to the ration books which have now been distributed, to evolve a scheme that will ensure to each person his or her proper allocation of tea.
Supplies of tea to this country are allocated by the British Ministry of Food on the basis of purchases of tea by wholesale merchants in the year ended the 30th June, 1939, and consequently it was necessary to arrange that distribution to retailers and rationing of consumers should conform with these allocations. It is not practicable to effect a change in this basis of allocation for the purpose of ensuring that supplies to traders will be regulated in accordance with the number of their customers. The only alternative course open to us is to endeavour to arrange the regulation of the number of customers registered with each trader in accordance with the trader's tea quota. Consumers were, therefore, required under the rationing scheme to register with the retailers from whom they ordinarily bought tea, and they were advised in public notices issued by my Department that compliance with this requirement afforded the best means of ensuring that they would obtain their tea rations regularly. So long as the general conditions remain unchanged, it will not be possible to introduce an alternative system for the rationing of tea, and the position has not been altered by the issue of ration books.
Is the Minister not aware that many traders have taken cards that they are not able to cater for with their supplies? That is the cause of the trouble. Are there any means of getting over that position?
Where transactions of that kind are brought to the notice of my Department an effort will be made to secure a re-distribution of these cards amongst traders who have tea supplies in excess of the quantity required to supply their registered customers.