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GOIN’ TO THE CORNER

The depression caused many people to distrust business and led the Government to

regulate business and economic affairs. After the Great Depression many people no longer trusted employers to protect workers. As a result, labour unions gained more members and greater public acceptance than ever before. Very few benefited from the Depression —— only the rich -- those who had enough money were able to buy

businesses, stock, and property that sold for low prices. Salaried workers lived bet- ter as prices dropped and they were able to buy more and more. Economists disagree on what causes depressions and how they can be prevented — some suggest that

during an expansion, businesses invest too heavily in buying equipment and-con- structing plants and office buildings. Then for some time there is no need to buy or

bufld.

World War II helped end the depression in one way as now that the men had gone to f1 ght for our country they were paid by the government, thus their families had money to buy the necessities. Because of the war and the need to feed our soldiers overseas,

there was a ration put on almost everything at home.

Ration books and coupons were allotted to families, thus making it difficult to buy what they needed now that they had money. The ration books and coupons were for such articles as sugar, tea, coffee, butter and meat. These coupons were numbered so they were allowed to buy only specified amounts of each item per week. One gentle- man whose favourite aunt was ill and craved a chocolate bar saved coupons for two

John=W. Forsythe COIL/Alberton Museum Ration Book