HOARDING CHECK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20036, 7 September 1939, Page 6

HOARDING CHECK

GROCERS LIMIT SALES SUPPLIES OF FOODSTUFFS EXCESS ORDER RUSH DEPLETION OF STOCKS (Per Preia Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Food hoarders who have been buying groceries well in excess of their normal requirements, have led city grocers to adopt protective restrictions. In future, they will sell only 41b of sugar, lib of tea and 71b of flour at a time. To avoid multiple purchases at different shops, many stores will serve only their regular customers. To counter requests for 251 bor 501 b bags of flour, they will in future buy in 2001 b sacks, and repack in 71b containers. Not only for other customers but for grocers themselves is the position made difficult by excess purchases. Under the control regulations the shops are only allowed to purchase wholesale their normal requirements, and the rush has seriously depleted current stocks. One city grocer told a reporter this morning that his business this week had been about double that of normal times. The main requirements by some customers were sugar, tea and flour and big orders were being put in for tinned fish and fruits. Shop attendants, who attempted to restrain customers, were bullied into accepting the orders, lie declared. He pointed out that hoarding was both unnecessary and unfair to other customers, who bought normally. The trade was forced to make restrictions. The Wanganui Grocers’ Association has decided to ask members to conserve stocks of sugar and flour. A limit of 241 b. has been placed on orders of sugar and 251 b. on flour. The association has asked the public to buy only .such supplies as are required for immediate use; ordering by customers in the ordinary way will greatly facilitate an equitable distribution of all food.