Fuel Rationing
Sir William Beveridge's report on fuel rationing has been pu lished as a White Paper, and it becomes obvious to critics that limiting factor in its discussion is the necessity of an immedia decision. . Plans for increasing production or limiting consumpt must be adopted now against the needs of next winter. Since f for industrial purposes cannot be cut down, the choice lies betw higher production, which means the withdrawal of miners from industry or the Services, and lower domestic consumption, or It can scarcely be said that the case for rationing, irrespective what might be obtained by increased production, is conclusiv made out in the report. That it would really secure fair distribu may be doubted in view of the variable needs of heating for dwell variously constructed. The reduction of consumption by cent. is not an intolerable hardship, but to secure this average ma, households must cut down much more. The inquiry does, howe; show that rationing is at least feasible. If it must be adopted. can be carried out. The chief objection lies in the cumbrousn of the machinery for working it. This is not merely to be measur by the number of clerks required for administration, but also perplexing intricacies of the points system which will impose whole series of fresh calculations on hard-worked housewives. there is really no satisfactory alternative, this new mental ar physical discipline must be accepted. But it is a pity Sir William terms of reference were so restricted. Having been asked to find rationing scheme, he has found one, without having been called to examine the possible alternatives.
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