FROM THE ARCHIVES:Having gotten through the second World War without bread rationing, the country was faced with it at the start of 1947 because of a bad harvest and the inability to import wheat from North America which was earmarked for European countries threatened with postwar famine.
THE GOVERNMENT’S decision to ration bread and flour in the 26 Counties, from January 18th, was announced by Mr. Sean Lemass, Minister for Industry and Commerce, over the radio last night. This new measure, forced upon them by the impossibility of obtaining supplies of foreign wheat for several months, brings Eire finally into the long list of European countries where the staple food already is under control.
Under the Government’s scheme, in which the simplest possible procedure has been adopted, every person in the country will be entitled to a weekly ration of 4½lb. of flour, or alternatively 6lb. of bread, including confectionery. The ration may be divided between flour, bread and confectionery, but the total may not exceed the equivalent of 4½lb. of flour.
Concurrently, the rate of wheat extraction is being reduced from 90 to 85%, and the rationed bread, consequently, will be lighter in texture than the present loaf. Dietetically, however, there will be little, if any, difference.
The Government’s belief that supplies of wheat will become available during the coming summer is reflected in the decision to make the rationing period one of nine months – until the next harvest is gathered.
As a measure of control on essential food, the ration is liberal. The average person does not consume more than three 2lb. loaves in the course of a week; and it is evident that the scheme is designed to secure a saving through the elimination of waste rather than through a curtailment of consumption.
The reduction of the extraction rate, while it will cost an appreciable loss in the volume of flour available to us from our own wheat, will provide a favourable counter-balance in more economic baking and use.
The poorer sections of the community, who are in receipt of regular supplies of bread on the voucher system, will receive their ration in addition to the existing quantity given to them on the vouchers, and wheat producers will be allowed one barrel of flour per head of their households.
The ration of bread in Britain is roughly 5lb. weekly for manual workers; 5½lb. for children between 11 and 18 years, and 4 lb. for the normal adult and young child, but, with a preponderance of foreign wheat, the bread is whiter than ours.
Mr. Lemass indicated that the harvest of wheat this year would be 50,000 tons short of the expected 300,000 tons. The country’s consumption is about 500,000 tons. “It is probably true to say,” Mr. Lemass declared, “that during the next six months the general position in regard to supplies of many essential goods will be more difficult than at any period during the war.”
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