When Will Rationing End?

Will the rationing of autos, refrigerators, and many other civilian items be necessary after Japan quits? Last week, the Wall Street Journal got its fingers on a confidential War Production Board report and announced that WPB is planning a postwar rationing system. Actually, WPB's survey was prepared for a special contingency: that Japan might be defeated in perhaps six months, before reconverted plants "are in full production and before military cutbacks have become fully effective. In that event, said WPB, the rationing prospects are as follows:

Shoes. With demand up to 500,000,000 (40% above prewar) and dealers' stocks substantially below normal, "shoe rationing may have to be continued until some time after V-J day."

Gasoline. The new increase in gas to civilians will give them 1,416,000 gallons a day, 200,000 short of the national need. As this amount may be made up from Army stocks on hand on V-J day, gas rationing can be ended promptly.

Refrigerators. At least two years, at prewar production levels, will be needed to fill the backed up demand. So refrigerator rationing will probably have to continue.

Tires. Expanded plants can more than take care of unrationed demand as soon as war ends.

Passenger Cars. Car rationing can probably be abandoned early in 1946 even if the Jap war is still on.

Coal. If the war ends this winter, rationing will be continued until spring, then dropped.

Trucks. Rationing can be stopped "very soon" after V-J day.

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