TEA SHORTAGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 15 November 1939, Page 8

TEA SHORTAGE

PANIC BUYING BLAMED MERCHANTS’ VIEWS That the existing shortage of tea in New Zealand had been accentuated considerably by useless panic buying and hoarding by the public was emphasised by a leading Dunedin importer when commenting on (he position of the tea market, “This hoarding,” he said, “has rendered it absolutely essential for retailers to bring rationing into operation to protect their regular customers, and nas added to the difficulties under which importers and packers are already labouring.”

The crux of the trouble, he continued, was the introduction by the Government in August last of the deferred payment scheme and the refusal of the banks in Ceylon to buy New Zealand drafts, which resulted in a break in the continuity of weekly shipments to the Dominion. Added to this was the fact that at the commencement of the war tea sales were discontinued until Great Britain had obtained its wartime requirements. “Unjustified Abuse” “I have a good deal of sympathy with the retailers.” said the head of a large Dunedin packing firm, “for they have been forced to suffer much abuse, which is quite unjustified, as they, in their turn, are doing thenbest to satisfy the exaggerated demand.”

The present release of ten from the packers was normal, and any shortage in the stores of the retailers was entirely due to the rush of panic buying, if normal buying were the rule of the day there was no need for grocers to be out of stock of various brands. It should be remembered by those who purchased above their ordinary requirements, he said, that tea lasted only a certain lime and that if stored in a pantry it showed in a few months deterioration in quality that offset any advantage that might accrue from early buying. “It is possible,” lie concluded, “that should the Government see its way clear to modify the present extent of deferred payment, stocks now held by merchants should be increased in the near future, specially as il might be assumed that the British Government commandeer is now practically completed.’’