NORMAL SUPPLIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 207, 2 September 1939, Page 12

NORMAL SUPPLIES.

PLENTY OF STOCKS.

" BUSINESS AS USUAL"

GUARD AGAINST HOARDING

City business houses are anxious to have the public understand that '"business as usual ' is the policy they are following in the present period of international strcs-s. Every assurance was given to-day that the supply of goods anil services is being continued as normally.

It was learned, in fact, that one of the largest Auckland wholesale suppliers of merchandise, with a big turnover in foodstuffs, yesterday afternoon is«ncd instructions very much in line with the Government price stabilisation regulations, which are announced to-dav.

This firm telephoned to the managers of ail shojv; connected with it a list of "policy points." of which the chief features were: —

All customers to be supplied with their normal requirements. Prices in no cases to be altered.

No undue quantities to be supplied

'"These instructions were in force before the late shopping period had ended last nirht," said a. principal of the firm. "They mean, in brief, that we are not going to be accused of profiteering. Without specific instructions. all our managers must adhere strictly to the present price list."

The instructions were issued before the Government made its proclamation of an emergency, and it U understood that other houses took the same line of action. All goods and services, of course, are now covered by the stabilisation regulations.

Tlio fact tlmt these firms took action voluntarily indicates that t Vie regulations are regarded an a logical measure of precaution. One of their objects is to prevent the purchase of goods for hoarding, although it '.va< learned to-day that there has fo far been no appreciable tendency towards the purchase of undue quantities. A minor exception, it was statejl. \\a« in the case of certain luxurv lines, which, according to one man. "don't Tnatter much, anyway."

'"There is no reason for hoarding prood''." another declared. "War does not mean that there will be an immediate shortage of supplies. Stocks are plentiful, and there is no prospect of the public being deprived of necessities. ".Most people know that old war slogan. *Rusinoss as usual.' I don't know of a better one at the present time."