FOOD GIVEN AWAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 36, 12 February 1931, Page 14

FOOD GIVEN AWAY

' MONEY VALUELESS

TALK OF PROFITEERING

(By "The Post's" Special Reporter.) NAPIER, This Day. For all practical purposes money is still valueless in Napier. Some of tho remaining shops are open and doing good business, but the workers at the various depots are giving food away and refusing to take money. At a meeting of the Belief Committee yesterday it was stated that 4680 meals were being supplied free at various camps in the vicinity of the city. Premises have been secured in one of the big garages for the distribution of boots and clothing. Under the present conditions, with no money in circulation, it is impossible to buy them. This state of affairs has been brought about by the burning of all the big shops, from which adequate supplies might have been obtained. Clothing. and boots will not be given away free, however, as the goods will be delivered from the depot only on receipt of an order signed by the employer of the person who is making the application. The men will have to pay for the goods eventually, as the employer will be held responsible to the Belief Committee for the payment. In cases where Men are ill and unable to work, boots and clothing will be supplied free on production of an order signed by an officer of the Salvation Army.. The distribution of foodstuffs is proceeding satisfactorily. Tobacco and cigarettes, of which there is a shortage, will be placed in the depots and sold. Suggestions are made that a good deal of profiteering is going on, and' reports show that as much as Is 6d has been paid for a packet of cigarettes. The matter has been referred to the police. There is not much danger of any serious outbreak of profiteering as long as the committee is distributing free food.