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Show Ration Book's Loss A Serious Matter The loss of ration books by consumers- and the laxness in returning return-ing books of deceased persons and those entering the armed services, to local rationing boards, are threatening to become a menace to the whole rationing program according to a letter from H. Grant Ivins, O P A state director, to the local war price and rationing ration-ing board. The letter, which outlined new procedures for replacement of lost and stolen books, urged local boards to exercise extreme care in the issuance of replacements. It also asserted that only 10 to 25 percent of the books of persons entering the services have been returned to the local boards' within with-in 10 days, as required, and urged vigilance in assuring the return of such books. "These 'loose books' constitute an incipient black market of such proportions at to threaten the very existence of the nation's program of assuring needed supplies for our fighting men and fair distribution distri-bution of scarce goods to civilians," civil-ians," Mr. Ivins' letter continued. "While I realize that most persons who lose books1 or use them improperly im-properly would be horrified at the thought that they are sabotaging the war program and undercutting our national security, yet that is literally the result." According to the new replacement replace-ment procedure outlined, individuals indivi-duals desiring book replacements must apply on Form R-194 in duplicate. One copy of this application appli-cation is sent to the OP A state enforcement officers. The applicant appli-cant will also be required to report the case to the county sheriff or local police, and execute a sworn affidavit setting forth the circumstances circum-stances under which the loss occurred. oc-curred. Ten days after the first application appli-cation is filed, the applicant may return to the board, which may then examine the facts and 'f it appears necessary, re-quire the applicant to appear at a hearing. hear-ing. The board may defer issuance of a replacement for as long as 60 days. I "In no instance should books be replaced in less than 10 days, and then only in emergency where the board is convinced that great hardship would result," Mr. Ivins' letter said. "In all but extreme cases, the board should not issue a replacement until the expiration of 60 days, as provided by the regulations. The inconvenience of using only non-rationed food for a time is small penalty indeed for those unwilling to take proper care of their ration books." Mr. Ivins' letter suggested that the principal sources of book losses are through improper care while the consumer is in the grocery store, and by allowing the book to get into the hands of small children. As a remedy for the first, he suggested that the books never be placed on the counter, either by the consumer or the grocery clerk. "If books are not put on the counter, they can't accidently be left there," the letter said. It was suggested also that books should never be placed in the bag with groceries either by the consumer con-sumer or the clerk, but should be put directly into the consumer's (Continued on last page) Ration Book Loss' (Continued Trom page 1 ) poeketbock after stamps have been removed. "Apparently many books are inadvertently destroyed along with the the bag after the groceries grocer-ies have been removed," the letter continued. With respect to keeping books away from small children, the letter admonished "They are not playthings. They should be guarded guard-ed with at least as much care a? is taken of a S20 bill!" r |