FOOD CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1942, Page 5

FOOD CONTROL

SCHEME PREPARED

In a pamphlet issued by the Food Controller of the E.P.S., Mr. C. M. Bowden, is set forth the scheme it is intended to enforce in the event of a state of emergency arising in Wellington. As is done in England, distribution of food will be continued through the usual channels, in particular through the retail shops. The E.P.S. Food Controller, operating in conjunction with the Government Controller and a committee of the wholesale trade, will be responsible for supplying shops with essential foodstuffs. Milk supply will be attended to by a special division.

It is not intended to commandeer the stocks in shops or to establish central depots. Pending instructions shops will carry on as usual, but sales to each customer must be limited to reasonable quantities, so that available stocks shall be spread as widely as possible, especially over the first day or two. Any attempt at "panic buying" or hoarding must be rigorously suppressed. The controller will call meetings of bakers, grocers, and butchers as required to arrange th^ manner in which further supplies will be issued. EMERGENCY SUPPLIES. If any shop in a particular district is destroyed, arrangements will be made for adequate stocks to be supplied to nearby shops, and additional shop assistants will be provided to ensure good service. If shopping centres are wiped out, headquarters will set up a depot in some adjacent building or provide for sale from motor-lorry or caravan. The staffs of any business destroyed may be called on to man the depot until such time as they can be re-established in other premises, whether temporary or permanent. The controller will be responsible, also, for supplying food to district rest centres, and for providing hot drinks at first aid posts. Homeless or destitute persons should proceed to the nearest rest centre.

The appointment of liaison officers and their duties in assisting the food controller are mentioned, and a general meeting between liaison officers and district wardens will be called shortly by the controller.