MAINTAINING TEA SUPPLIES

Chronicle (Levin), 14 March 1947, Page 5

MAINTAINING TEA SUPPLIES

Pres ^ Associa ion

By Telegrap/z-

WELLINGTON, March 13. The effect of tlie recent cliange in the 'sale of tea in Ceyloii and India under wiiich all tea is uow sold. at open auetion instead of lixed prices) was considered at a conference of representafives of tlie New Zealand W holesale. Tea Paekers' f ederation and the New Zealand Tea Brokers7 Association with the Food Controller, Mr. A. Costello, in atteiidance. in a statenient issued after the conference _Mr. E. R. Toop, president of tlie foriner body, said tlie Food Controller had anipliiied the ■ statenient made' recently by the Minister of Bupply, Hon. D. G. ►Sullivan, and, after fuji consideration of all details, the conference liad concurred in the eii'orts being made to maintain supplies and tlie qualitv to whicli New Zealand is accustomed. A statenient that free eompetitive con'ditions wonld be restored at the earljest possible date was welcomed but it was agreed that some measure of control wjts still essential, payticularly for the maintenance of a rea sonable pr.ice tp the public. Mr. Toop added that world supplies of tea were considerably below the demand and the present shortage was likely to exist for a considerable time. Destruction and lack of maintenance during the war, of the Java and Sumatru plantations which in the pasi had supplied a substantial portion of the world 'a crop, would take two years .0 repair. These conditions, combined with the growing world demaud, had created a very firin price in the auctions already held in Coloinbo and Calcutta. Increased prices to the public could only be -avoided through the Government policy of stabilisation and subsidy. New Zealand had imported suf iicient tea under the Empire tea seheme to maintain the ration during the war period and fnll eooperation between the Food Controller and the trade had made it possible to supply the public with tea of probably a higher yuality than other couptries and with 110 inerease in priee. All connected with the tea trade fuljy supported the Governnient in sending Mr. L. M. XV right to Ceylon and India as it was only by direet contact that regular shipments of both quantity and quality could be maintained.