On Monday the inhabitants of London and of the six
counties of Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex were put on rations of meat, butter, and margarine. The ration-cards had not all been distributed, but the public accepted the new situation philosophically. One unexpected result of rationing was to reveal large supplies of meat which no one could or would buy. Most of the people who have to eat their midday meals in restau- rants abjured meat, partly in the interests of their families at home, and partly to save themselves the trouble of carrying coupons to exchange for meat dishes. At two well-known restaurants not one customer in five ordered meat. The wholesale meat trade has rearranged its methods.of distribution, but the retail butchers, on whom the chief burden will fall, have not yet grappled with the task of dividing carcases of beef and mutton into the minute portions which will now be required.
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