SUGAR & TEA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 November 1939, Page 6

SUGAR & TEA

MINISTER’S STATEMENT CHALLENGED. PROTEST BY WELLINGTON GROCERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. A statement by the Minister of Supplies (Mr Sullivan) issued recently in connection with stocks of sugar mid tea has been referred to the Wellington Master Grocers' Association, which is emphatic that the Minister's slaloment is misleading to the public. At the commencement of the war. grocers were requested to co-operate with the Government in a difficult period by keeping' a check on hoarding by limiting supplies to the normal requirements of customers. The trade was happy to co-operate and has done everything within its power to assist the Government and serious exception is taken to the statement of the Minister that supplies have not been rationed. either by wholesalers or retailers. Grocers state definitely that they arc unable io obtain from the wholesalers even their normal requirements of certain lines, and in particular did this apply to sugar and tea. Consequently all grocers in Wellington regret. the inconvenience caused to their customers by this limiting of supplies and wish to make il quite clear that they are in no way responsible for the shortage. A resolution passed by the Auckland Master Gi'ocrrs on November 20. in reply to the Minister's statement, has lite full support of the Wellington Association.