Butler had double rations of sugar

Three people appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court charged with contraventions of the Sugar Rationing Order brought in because of wartime shortages.

John Don, butler, Meiklewood, admitted that between January 1 and 9, 1918, he obtained three pounds of sugar by a card which was not available for his lawful use.

Mr Don said he was worried at the time as one of his sons had been killed and another severely wounded. He applied for sugar using a ration card issued for his house but had also been included on employer’s household card.

The Fiscal said Mr Don was getting “double rations” but accepted he was “not a hoarder” and did not mean to cheat. Mr Don was admonished.

Mrs Christina Taylor, or McKenzie, 24 Caledonia Place, St Ninians, pleaded guilty to a similar complaint.

Mrs McKenzie thought, wrongly, she could have a ration card for the shop she kept and her home. She was fined £1.

Peter Park, miner, Crook, was also charged with breaching the order in relation to sugar.

He and his wife had seven daughters, one of whom married a soldier. Mr Park said he expected she would be coming to live with them.

However, Mr Park’s son-in-law was subsequently rejected by the Army and he claimed a sugar allowance for the daughter who did not go to live with them. Value of the sugar wrongly claimed was one shilling and ninepence.

Sheriff Dean Leslie, fining Mr Park £2, said it was not the value to the sugar that was important but the fact others were prevented from getting their proper allowance.