DOMINION ACTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 4 September 1939, Page 8

DOMINION ACTION

REGULATIONS GAZETTED CO-ORDINATING STOCKS POWERS OP RESTRICTION SALE AND DISTRIBUTION (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Since the crisis in September, 1938, steps have been taken by the Government. to provide control and conservation. of all foodstuffs in the event of an emergency such as the country is experiencing at present.

The Foodstuff Emergency Regulations have been Gazetted, and provide necessary machinery for the control and distribution of all locdstuffs as and when required. A food controller is appointed, and is invested with authority to administer the control of the foodstuffs regulations under the .Minister of Supply. Conditions of Sales. The regulations give the controller power to regulate and restrict, control or prohibit the use or distribution of any foodstuff for human consumption, or to fix conditions of sales of any such foodstuffs. Under the regulations the controller may, at his discretion, require all traders or resellers of foodstuffs to co-ordinate their stocks and distribution, or may take any other action deemed necessary for the proper conservation of I any foodstuffs. In order that the Government may know the position in regard to stocks heldfat any time, power is taken to require any person to supply lull information relating to the possession or sale of foodstuffs. Essential Commodities Conservation of essential commodities becomes one of the major items in times of emergency. The administration of the regulations will be carried out by the Internal Marketing Division, and their activities will completely cover New Zealand. The acting-Prime Minister, the lion. P. Fraser, stated this morning that the Supply Control Emergency Regulations had been Gazetted to control the supply of various commodities and the production of various industries so that the best possible use could be made of all supplies of foodstuffs and materials in the Dominion and of the production, capacity of the Dominion during the war.

The Emergency Supply Control Emergency Regulations provide for the appointment by the GovernorGeneral of a Minister of the Crown to act as Minister of Supply, and the acting-Prime 'Minister stated that the Governor-General early this morning had appointed the Hon. D. G, Sullivan to act in this capacity.

The general function of the Minister of Supply is to direct and coordinate the work of the various supply controllers who may he appointed from time to time by the Minister

Pursuant to any supply emergency regulations which may be Gazetted, immediate control is being instituted in connection with the following, and Supply Emergency Regulations have been Gazetted accordingly:—Oil fuel, sugar, wheat and flour, foodstuffs, medical, dental and surgical supplies, electricity, mining, timber production and factory production. ,

Commenting on the various supply regulations, the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, stated that they would be administered with as little inconvenience to the public as possible. They were very necessaiy in the public interest in the present emergency, however, and the Government invited the help and lull cooperation of al} effective interests and the entire community m securing their efficient and harmonious application. Controllers Appointed. The appointment of the following controllers to administer the various regulations under his direction was announced early this morning by the Minister of Supply. Oil Fuel.—Mr. A. Tyndall. Wheat ancl flour.—Mr. R. McPherson. Sugar.—Mr. B. L. Dallard. Foodstuffs. —'Mr. F. R. Picot. Medical Supplies.—Dr. M. H. Watt. Electricity.—Mr. F. T. M. Kissel. Factory .—‘Mr. G. A. Pascoe. Timber—Mr. A. R. Entrican. , Mining.—Mr. A. Tyndall. Supplies of Electricity The appointment of a controller of electrical supply is provided for in the Electricity Emergency Regulations. ‘Tn the state of national emergency now existing,” said the Minister oi Sup-ply. "the Government has found i necessary to Gazette certain regulations concerning electrical supply, and they provide primarily for the appointment of a controller, who will be under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Supply and will be responsible for the administration of the regulations. “The regulations deal with the control, generation, transmission, distribution, sale and use of electricity throughout the Dominion, and are applicable to all—publicly as well as privately - owned—electric supply systems. Powers vested in the controller will be administered with the utmost discretion, and it is confidently felt that all sections of the community will co-operate with the Government to the fullest extent.” Medical Requisites Regulations were gazetted early this morning to institute the control of the sale, delivery or other disposal of any medical supplies held in stock or arriving in New Zealand. It will be necessary for all firms dealing in medical supplies to obtain a permit to do so. Medical officers cf health in various centres have delegated, to them -powers of controller of medical supplies for local application. Firms dealing in medical supplies are required to make application to the local medical officer of health for permits to sell, deliver or dispose of medical supplies enumerated in the schedule to regulations. Regulations conferring power upon the Government to control the production and distribution and use of timber have been invoked to expedite

‘lie production and supply of limber for defence and other emergency work. They will have only a limited r-'cncnl application, the purpose being to interfere with normal manufacturing and trading activities to an absolute minimum consistent with the using of available man-power and equipment to the best advantage.