War Cabinet Discourages All Delivery

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1942, Page 2

War Cabinet Discourages All Delivery

Zoning officer to interview retailers. "Other than milk, coal and firewood, the War Cabinet has decided that, where possible, all retail deliveries must cease," Mr. H. M. Christie, zoning officer for the North Island, said last night. He is paying his first visit to New Plymouth in his official capacity. Complete .cessation of retail deliveries thxoughout New Zealand presented many difficulties, Mr. Christie explained, and in certain cases grave hardship would result from immediate curtailment. Nevertheless, the plan was to stop such deliveries wherever they could be done without, and this would be done as rapidly as possible. "Action is essential because of the eerious situation concerning tyres, petroi and labour," Mr. Christie said. "The manpower position is becoming more and nrlore difficult. In an endeavour to obtain. tyres the Government had sent a representative to the United States, but when the United States itself has completely prohibited delivery of goods by motor transport New Zealand cannot expect to get much consideration unless we take similar steps." Further Petroi Reduction. A further reduction in petroi allowances could be expected as soon as largescale offensive actions were started by the United Nations, Mr. Christie considered. No matter where such action was taken it imposed an extra strain on petroi supplies. More tankers were needed to transport oil and petroi used in amazing quantities by tanks, aeroplanes and warships, and that meant less for civilian needs. Mr. Christie will address those interested in household deliveries of goods at a meeting at New Plymouth to-night. To-morrovv morning it is his intention to meet representatives of business . associations at New Plymouth, and in the afternoon he will visit Waitara to discuss zoning ' matters with the Mayor, Mr. J. P. Hughson, and business interests. On Wednesday morning he will go to Inglewood and Stratford, and he will probably visit Hawera on Thursday on his way to Wanganui. "It will probably be neeessary for me to return to the province later to advise on difficulties that may arise when retail transport interests suggest zoning plans," Mr. Christie explained. He knew that certain retail trades in Taranaki, bakers for instance, had zoning plans in operation,' but he believed there was still room for regulation and rationalisation in delivery services of every kind. In the cities- different classes of businesses were in many cases pooling their deliveries and thus eliminating a considerable amount of overlapping. City butchers had almost done away with retail deliveries, but it was admitted groceries presented problems peculiar to the trade. 'So many lines essential in a household were stocked by grocers that groceries represented a very large proportion of household purchases. In hilly places like Wellington a real hardship would be created if there were no deliveries in certain localities.