GREAT BRITAIN: End of Rationing

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The last of British wartime rationing, in effect since World War II began in 1939, will disappear next month: household coal, used in millions of living-room grates to add warmth, cheer and smog to the British winter, will henceforth be available without restriction.

Europe's basically mild industrial recession has piled 8,500,000 tons of cheaper, small industrial coal at British pitheads over the past 15 months. This coal is too fine for householders' grates, but the British National Coal Board thinks that it can now boost output of domestic coal high enough to meet the expected demand. The British also believe that the industrial coal recession is temporary, and that Europe's "energy gap" will, in the long run. assure plenty of furnaces for Britain's coal.