EMERGENCY MEASURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 6

EMERGENCY MEASURE

HOARDING OF FOOD

STATE-ASSISTED PLAN

SYDNEY, May 17

The Federal Government has decided to-encourage food hoarding in private homes, although it does not propose to sponsor individuals in the building up of supplies of emergency rations. It will, however, assist small storekeepers to lay in stocks equivalent to a three months' supply of essential foods.

Making the announcement this week, the Minister of Customs (Sir Earle Page) said that country residents could assist the Government's "iron ration" scheme by laying in heav. stores of foodstuffs that would keep indefinitely

The plan is part of a vast Commonwealth scheme to protect the public against the effects of a blockade of Australian waters or an invasion which might cause disruption of the normal methods of food distribution. It is also designed as protection against the aftermath of possible bombing of areas where food warehouses are grouped closely together.

Sir Earle Page said: "It is important to have food in the isolated areas in an emergency. The.less strain upon transport at such a time s the better. The Government, with the assistance of the States, is enabling retailers, to build up a three months' supply of essential commodities. In the cities the difficulties of food distribution are not so great, nevertheless hoarding by the individual is certainly desirable."

Every food and grocery wholesale firm in Sydney has registered under the scheme and is preparing a list of approved country and suburban customers who ar^ to carry the goods.

The list of "iron rations" for which assistance in purchasing will be given

is: Baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, biscuits, brea^d improver, candles, condensed and powdered milk, cream of tartar, flour, honey, infants' and invalids' foods, jam, lighting kerosene, matches, salt, self-raising flour, soap, tinned and dried fruits, oatmeal, pearl barley, rice, and split peas. Separate arrangements are being made to hold three months* supply of tea and sugar in certain selected areas.