On This Day, 25 January 1918

Birmingham Daily Post

Friday 25 January 1918

FOOD HOARDING

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY POST

Sir,

For the guidance of householders, would it be possible for you to make a plain statement as to what constitutes “food hoarding.” I have tried vainly to find out how I stand, but neither from the Orders I have seen nor from magistrates’ decisions can I get any clear idea. The Food Order I have seen states that one may not possess more food than the ordinary requirements of the house, but whether the quantity is for a day, or week, or month, or more is not stated.

My own position is that, living outside railway delivery, I have for twenty or thirty years always obtained my supplies in somewhat wholesome quantities- for instance, 100lb. tea, one bag flour, and rice, tapioca, maize, &c., in 28lb. to 56lb.

When “voluntary rationing” was requested, or even before, my household was put on, or, in fact, below the quantities suggested by the Food Controller, and these quantities have not been exceeded. The result is that I have small quantities of the above- mentioned food in stock.

I have about 50lb. of tea (purchased in November, 1916), and quantities varying from 14lb. to 40lb. of the other articles mentioned; and, further, as I am a large grower of fruit, I have saved some sugar out of my allowance for jam making. Since the Birmingham scheme of rationing was adopted I have had the tea carefully weighed out every week, 1oz. per person and no more. My household consists of seven persons (adults).

I can prove by  my tradesmen’s bills, if necessary, that the above statements are correct, and I should like to know if I am or am not a “food hoarder,” for I wish to comply with any Orders made to help the country in these difficult times.

I may mention that when the Flour Order was made I wrote to the Controller, and told him I had a bag of flour which I could not possibly use by the time required, and his reply was that “the amount was negligible.”

If you are able to tell me what my position is, or advise what I should do, I think it may be helpful to others besides myself.

-HOUSEHOLDER

We have received the following comment upon this letter from one whom we believe to be a competent authority on the subject.

– ED. B.D.P.

Proceedings in respect of the acquisition of any article before April 9, 1917, would not lie under the Food Hoarding Order, but subsequent to that date no article must have been acquired so that whether in addition to those acquired previously or by themselves they shall exceed the quantity required for ordinary use and consumption. “Ordinary use and consumption” would appear to mean consumption for the period usually adopted by the person making purchases. This period must not accordingly be prolonged as the result of the rationing of the commodities concerned. The effect of that would be that if the amount usually consumed in a household per day is reduced as the result of rationing by one-half, the quantities ordered must be in respect of the ordinary period, and would accordingly have to be diminished by one-half. If a person acquires his former quantity he will be bound by the previous “ordinary period,” and as he would then be receiving goods in excess of the rations he would apparently be committing an offence. It has been definitely laid down in regard to sugar that it will not be considered an offence under the Order for a person to save a quantity out of the amount allowed under the rationing scheme, for jam-making.