South Yorkshire Times, July 27th, 1946

Miner’s Extra B.U.S.
Can Be Used Anywhere – Conisbrough Ruling.

Miners are not compelled to spend the six additional bread coupons issued to them at collieries in meal packets at the pit canteen, according to an answer given at Wednesday’s meeting of Conisbrough Food Control Committee by the Food Executive Officer (Mr. R. Dunn) to Coun. R. H. Shephard, who alleged that the men at Denaby Main Colliery had been told by those issuing the coupons that they must be spent at the canteen.

Coun. Shephard said they had been inundated with enquiries. He visualised the canteen opening at six in the morning and the last of the men to be served going down the pit not before 7-30. After consultation with the Trade Union secretary the men had been told they could spend the coupons at their usual dealers, some of whom had referred them again to the colliery canteen. Had they done right in telling the men what they did?

Mr. Dunn said there was no compulsion to cash the coupons at only one place. If the retailers were refusing them he would circularise them.

Coun. Shephard moved that that should be done and that the Press should give publicity to the point.

Asked how much the six coupons were worth, County Coun. B. Roberts (Chairman) said if they were taken to the canteen the user would get something between his bread; if he took it to the grocer he got bread only – 1½ loaves.

Two Denaby dealers had 72 and 84 loaves respectively which were in danger of becoming stale and might go to waste, said Coun. Shephard, after Mr. Hepworth had said that due to overbuing by the public at the week-end, sales on the first two days of rationing had reached a record low, and that for the first time in his career he himself would not be baking that night.

Mr. Dunn said on Monday he had issued authority to sell a big surplus of bread coupon-free. That had stopped and Food Officers in the future were forbidden to give such authority. The suggestion now what that confectionery could be sold in such cases at cut prices against coupons, If that failed retailers had the names of three firms any of which would take the bread off their hands. It was a position which, it was anticipated, would not recur.

On the suggestion of the Chairman it was decided that special representation should be made to the Leeds headquarters to deal with the loaves mentioned.

The discussion brought a plea for more food for miners from Coun. Shephard and a tribute to the public, the retailers and the bakers on their co-operation in working the bread rationing scheme from Mr. Dunn.

Coun. Shephard said, ‘They are wanting more coal out, but the men are wanting some proper food to produce the coal needed. It is time someone protested.’