FOOD HOARDERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20035, 6 September 1939, Page 7

FOOD HOARDERS

FEVERED ACTIVITEY TRADERS OVERWHELMED RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED NO SHORTAGE FEARED One of the immediate results In Gisborne of the declaration of a state of war has been the development of a feverish quest flor food supplies, far beyond normal requirements, by panicky members of the public. The retailers in town have been overwhelmed with demands for stores, representing in some cases six timesthe average consumption; while firms dealing on a wholesale basis likewise have received orders for foodstuffs in quantities which, if delivered, would clean out the current stocks in a few hours.

The unpatriotic character of the actions of food-hoarders is stressed by retailers and wholesalers alike, and by general agreement, only average supplies of the comestibles in principal demand are being provided to customers. Obviously there has been a similar rush for foodstuffs in other parts of the country, for the food controller under the new war regulations, Mr. F. R. Picot, has issued a request to trading organisations to co-operate in the application of control. Request to Traders “Full co-operation from your association will be appreciated in very carefully carrying out the provisions of clause 9 of the Price Stabilisation and Emergency Regulations, by each member supplying only such goods to his regular clientele as arc considered necessary for immediate requirements and prompt use,” stated a telegram., received last evening by the secretary of the Gisborne Master. Grocers’’Association, and placed before the executive of the association.

The executive was able to telegraph a reply that full co-operation already had been agreed upon, and that the suggestions of the controller were already in operation. Not only the foodstuffs sold over the counters but also the heavier raw supplies normally dealt with by the bag or sack have been the subject of this week’s hoarding attack. The fear that prices will rise, or that stocks will become short, ciouotless accounts in some degree for the rush of orders for flour, for instance. Flour Situation “The flour situation is fully covered by the regulations of supply and price limitation,” said the district manager of the flour section under the food-control scheme, Mr. 'rnos. Corson, to-day. “The Government is controlling the supply of wheat, it having been considered desirable to provide for control right from the outbreak on war. There is, however, no shortage of wheat or flour at present, nor is there likely to be any shortage. “For some time the Wheat Committee has been building up stocks of wheat for emergency use, and there is to-day sufficient wheat in New Zealand for all purposes, at least until the end of March, 1940, without using any of the new crop, the harvesting of which will commence in January, 1940 As there has been a very much larger area of wheat planted this year, supplies are assured without importations. “As regards carrying stocks, it is quite unnecessary for housewives to. take in extra stocks of flour, as there is no prospect of a shortage, and prices are being controlled. ’ Staple Items Well Stocked

The arguments applying to flour were applicable in the main to foodstuffs,'in general. There were some : terns'in respect of which a shortage might develop if communication with Australia and other parts of the world was interrupted, but the staple items were all well and there should be no fear of difficulty, f consumption proceeded on normal lines. The real danger lies, it is pointed out, in the possibility that local stocks of comestibles may be absorbed by a section of panicky buyers, and the whole routine of supply and replacement overturned. It is emphasised that New Zealand has no occasion to fear a serious. shortage of foodstuffs, except through the action of those who take the prospects of a shortage seriously.