Rationing

From 1917 onwards, enemy blockades and attacks on merchant ships threatened the regular supply of food for everyone in the country. The government introduced voluntary restrictions but this measure failed. In January 1918, the Ministry of Food introduced rationing to try and make sure that existing stocks and new harvests were distributed fairly.

Background to the impact of the Great War in Scotland
Price increases in food
Producing more food in Scotland
Rationing Order, 1918
Ration books

Price increases in food

In March 1917, the Board of Trade Labour Gazette published an article on the steady rise of the retail price of food across Britain. In comparing the price of food from March 1916 to March 1917, the journal reported that there was an average increase of 32%. Potatoes had more than doubled in price; cheese and eggs were 45% dearer; meat, bacon and butter rose by 30%-35%, flour, milk and sugar by 20%-25%; bread, margarine and fish by 13%-18% and tea by 7%. Those with money could afford the higher prices but ordinary working people suffered the most.

Print a copy of the image and transcript of the table giving a percentage comparison of the level of prices, Rich Text format, 1.6MB, new window


(National Records of Scotland reference: HH31/27/56 p.96)

Transcription

Comparison with July, 1914.

In the following Table is given a percentage comparison of the level of prices at 1st March, 1917, in relation to the normal prices of July, 1914:

(National Records of Scotland reference: HH31/27/56 p.96)

Producing more food in Scotland

The Government set up local agricultural committees in every county in mainland Scotland to monitor crop production and to advise on how to increase each year's harvest. In April 1917, the Scottish Departmental Committee on Food Production published its third report on progress in maintaining and if possible, in increasing food production in Scotland.

The committee reported that most farmers were doing their best and 49,116 additional acres had been brought under the plough. The army released 1500 experienced ploughmen for a period of work in spring 1917 to cultivate as much land as possible. Money was set aside to provide some training for women volunteers to work on the land. Many School Boards arranged Easter holidays to coincide with the needs of local farmers and about 340 boys from Edinburgh and Glasgow secondary schools volunteered to help out but few farmers actually took up the offer. Local people were encouraged to set up allotments and grow their own food.

Print a copy of the image and transcript of the Committee's recommendations, Rich Text format, 1.3MB, new window

(National Records of Scotland reference: HH31/24/12 p7-8)

Transcript

Recommendations

1. That district executive committees should at an early date reconsider the available areas of grass lands in their districts so that a much larger area may be ploughed in the ensuing season than in the present year, and that where it is thought desirable timeous notice may be given to the occupiers that the ploughing up of such lands will be required in the national interests. District agricultural committees should be asked to report on this subject to the Board not later than November 1, 1917.

2. That the right to enter woodlands between July 1 and April 30 for the purpose of killing rabbits should be given to all tenants of agricultural and pastoral holdings contiguous to such woodlands.

3. That the right of agricultural tenants to kill pheasants found destroying crops should be extended to Scotland, and should be made to include grouse and blackgame.

4. That the Board of Agriculture should continue to encourage schemes for the destruction of rats by paying a proportion of the cost, and that they should provide the necessary funds to enable district agricultural committees to support schemes for the destruction of sparrows and sparrows' eggs.

5. That a representation be made to the Food Controller that much fruit grown or picked for home consumption will be wasted unless some provision of a supply of sugar for jam-preserving be made, and that such supplies should be granted on the recommendation or licence of the district agricultural committees.

6. That the Army Council be requested to continue to release from time to time the skilled farm hands who are serving in the Home Forces and, so far as consistent with military necessities, leave on the land the men who have had training and experience in agricultural work.

7. That the steam-threshing plants should be kept fully staffed, and, where possible, to economise farm labour, a team of five men should be available for and accompany each mill.

8. That the Board of Agriculture should endeavour to extend the use of labour-saving implements, and where necessary should supply grubbers, cultivators and binders, which would be operated by the tractors now in committees' hands.

9. That steps be taken to give effect to the Committee's previous recommendations that restriction of the price of milk should from time to time be kept in relation to the cost of feeding stuffs and labour.

10. That the survey of deer forests be completed by the Board of Agriculture without delay, and that the Board at once arrange with the owners of forests in respect of stock-grazing.

11. That steps should be taken to secure an adequate supply of superphosphates for next season.

12. That the attention of district agricultural committees be again called to the 5th recommendation of our second report:-
"The local agricultural committee shall arrange for meetings of farmers and farm servants for the purpose of electing representatives who would form a joint committee to discuss from time to time the necessary adjustments of wages and conditions of service."

13. That the use of wheat, barley, oats and maize, except small and damaged grain, as food for live stock other than draught horses, be prohibited unless under special licence until the forthcoming harvest.

(National Records of Scotland reference: HH31/24/12 p7-8)

Rationing Order, 1918

As the war continued, trade and the transport of goods with overseas countries were affected. Certain foodstuffs were in short supply. Sugar supplies were affected and in February 1918, the Ministry of Food approved a scheme for rationing butter, margarine and tea to maintain levels of distribution throughout the country.

Print a copy of the transcript of the Ministry of Food approved scheme, Rich text format, 9KB, new window

Until the Food Controller otherwise prescribes the Rationed Foods shall be:
Sugar, butter and margarine, meat and lard

Rationed Food may be obtained for household consumption only up to the prescribed amount and only by means of a ration book or leaf or other ration document available for lawful use and lawfully used.

A person may obtain Rationed Food for household consumption… only from the retailer with whom he is registered for the purpose. …he must produce his ration book and relative leaf… available for lawful use. The appropriate coupon or coupons representing the amount of food obtained must be detached and retained by the retailer.

(National Records of Scotland reference: JC56/21 p.523)

Ration books

Print the image and transcript for the National Ration Book (Rich Text Format, 1.22MB, new window)



(National Records of Scotland reference: GD483/14/5)

Transcript/description:

The image shows the instructions and retailers' stamps in a National Ration Book (Serial No. Ab2 No. 044279) issued to Harriet CJ Mackay on 14 July 1918.
The instructions read:

The person named as the holder of this Ration Book on the Reference Leaf (page 6) (green) must sign his name in the space provided on that leaf.

The sugar retailer stamp: John Laing, 57 Clerk Street, Edinburgh
The butcher stamp: Thomas Gardiner, 35 Clerk Street, Edinburgh
The Fats retailer: Maypole Dairy Co Ltd, 86 Newington Road, Edinburgh
The Bacon retailer: John Laing, 57 Clerk Street, Edinburgh
Additional stamp: And[re]w Melrose & Co, 117 Princes Street, Edinburgh

(National Records of Scotland reference: GD483/14/5)

Print the image and transcript for the Leave or Duty Ration Book (Rich Text Format, 1.32MB, new window)



(National Records of Scotland reference: GD1/1265/3/1)

Transcript/description:

The image shows the holders name and the instructions from a Leave or Duty Ration Book for a Soldier or Sailor (Serial No.L17 No.112163) issued to R Boyce, Private No.32938.

INSTRUCTIONS TO HOLDER

1. Each coupon in this book, other than meat coupons, represents one week's civilian ration. The meat coupons entitle you to purchase meat at a shop according to the official Table of Equivalent Weights displayed in the shop. A coupon or half-coupon may be used to buy a meat meal anywhere.
2. The book is not transferable. You must produce the book whenever you buy any rationed food, or a meat meal. The seller will detach coupons. Coupons already detached are useless.
3. You must spread your coupons over the full period of leave and of your journey out and back. No fresh book will be issued to you. If the period of your leave or duty is extended, you must take this book, with the document authorizing the extension of leave or duty, to the Local Food Office, who will issue an Emergency Card to cover the remainder of your leave or duty. This book ceases to be valid at the expiration of your leave or duty as indicated by the date opposite 5 in the front of this cover.

PENALTIES FOR MISUSE.-£100 or Six months' imprisonment, or both.

(National Records of Scotland reference: GD1/1265/3/1)