SHORTAGE OF TEA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1939, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF TEA

POSITION CALLED SERIOUS IN MASTERTON. STATEMENTS BY GROCERS. “We are experiencing the utmost difficulty in obtaining proprietary lines of tea, some of which are absolutely unobtainable,” stated Mr R. Graham, chairman of the Masterton Grocers’ Association, this afternoon. “The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Sullican) and his associates had informed the public that there were ample supplies of sugar and tea." Mr Graham added. A perusal of order sheets and an inspection of grocers' shelves and merchants’ warehouses showed little, if any. to be obtained. Small quantities of loose tea were available, but showed an ever-increas-ing rise in cost. The acute shortage of tea supplies which existed throughout New Zealand undoubtedly existed in the Wai-

rarapa. Many and varied difficulties were mentioned by other traders interviewed. One chain stores manager stated that his supplying warehouse in Wellington had ample stocks of their own special pack, but pending the fixation of prices by the Government the tea was being held in the warehouse. One grocer said he was cleared out completely. An appeal for customers to be reasonable in their demands was made by another shop manager. He stated that he had restricted the sale of lea to 11b per customer, and had been regarded with suspicion when refusing to sell larger quantities.