Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/234



R. RUNCIMAN had announced the appointment of a Food Controller in November of 1915, and was the first holder of that office. Meat, bread, and sugar came under strict control, and a voluntary system of rationing was launched, allowing 4 lbs, of bread or flour, 24 lbs, of meat and ¾ lb, of sugar for each person weekly. On February 3rd of 1917 the Corn Production Act was introduced, and on April 4th the Government assumed complete control of all food stuffs. became Controller on June 15th, and by September maximum prices with splendid profit margins had been fixed. Sugar cards came into operation on January 1st, 1918, and after Lord Rhondda's death all householders had their coupon books to secure rations of meat, tea, lard, butter, or margarine. This scarcity of food and strict rationing caused great difficulty to locomotivemen. The inferior dark bread had no keeping qualities, and to buy food in strange towns was an awkward matter. Rationing, therefore, had to receive the special consideration of the Society, as real hardships were imposed upon the members. Stamina was reduced at a period of unexampled strain upon the railways. England was the storehouse of money and munitions for the Allies, and the railways