MANUAL WORKERS ONLY.

Instructions have been issued to Food Control Committees on the provision of “supplementary rations for heavy workers,” about 6,000,000 of whom will benefit. Employers will find themselves asked to give certificates for larger quantities of food for their employees than they are permitted to have themselves. Those included in the classes provided for are men on “very heavy” and “heavy” industrial work, and “heavy” agricultural work.

Application forms will be available in every district, and the “supplementary rations will not commence until supplies are available,” certainly not before April 7, and they will consist of “equivalents,” not butcher’s meat. At first it will be on a “flat rate” of quantity. Those to benefit “will include substantially all men engaged on bodily labour, and women will be included only if engaged on work of special severity or involving constant exposure to weather. Women on ordinary factory work, whether munition work or not. will not be entitled to a supplementary ration.” No one in “ordinary or commercial pursuits, office staff, clerks, commercial travellers, dealers, shop assistants, messengers, indoor domestic servants, and others engaged in similar occupations” are to have it. Somewhat elaborately designed cards of various colours have been prepared, the hue to indicate which category the holder is in.

Medical and other opinion has been obtained, and some women employed on the land will be included in the extra rations. From a sub-committee appeal is to the Food Commissioner, the final appeal being to a central tribunal sitting in private at the Ministry. Applicants have to fill in their names and addresses, sex, age if under 18, and nature of employment, the employer certifying as to the work. Charwomen and washerwomen wild not be entitled to apply.