CEREAL SUPPLIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20034, 5 September 1939, Page 9

CEREAL SUPPLIES

CONTROL INSTITUTED REGULATIONS GAZETTED PRICES AND DELIVERIES (For Press Association,) WELLINGTON, last night. The appointment of a controller, with power to regulate, restrict, control, or prohibit the distribution oi wheat, oats, barley, pollard, bran, flour, or bread, is provided for in regulations gazetted overnight. The extension of control to barley and oats would become necessary in the event of a shortage of wheat. "The Government has controlled the supply of wheat and Hour, anc fixed the price of bread, in the past under the Board of Trade Regulations, but as bread is a vital foodstuff, it has been considered advisable, in order to ensure that there is no interruption of supply in the present emergency, to extend the field of control," says a statement issued early yesterday morning.™ The controller will work under instructions from the Minister of Supply and his authority extends to the control of any products manufactured from wheat, barley, or oats. He. is given power to regulate, restrict, control or prohibit the distribution nf wheat, oats, barley, pollard, bran, flour or bread. Adequacy of Supply The controller may also take such ueps as are considered necessary to ensure that an adequate supply oi wheat is produced in New Zealand, and to this end may enter into arrangements for the supply oi seeds, manure, and machinery, and may undertake other measures to ensure .ho growing of ’wheat. Provision is made for the control of flour-mills, and for the production and distribution of adequate supplies of flour by the most economical means. To conserve essential supplies, tin ingredients to be used in bread may be prescribed, and the delivery of bread may be regulated and zoned The controller will be assisted by and will work closely with committees representing the wheatgrowers (lourmiilers, and bakers. Only in Extreme Emergency Although wide powers must necessarily be given to the controller in regulations such as these, it is only in ease of extreme emergency that many of them would be used, although it has been considered advisable to provide for control right from the beginning. There is no shortage of wheat or (lour at present, nor is there likely to be such a shortage. For some time the Wheat Committee has been build’ mg tin stocks of wheat for emergency use, land there is' to-day sufficient wheat in New Zealand for all purposes—milling and fowl wheat and seed—to last until the end of March. 1040, without' using any of the new •rop, harvesting which will commence in January. As a very large area has bee:: planted in wheat this season, supplies are assured without importations, until at least the end of 1040. There is therefore no occasion tor tradcis. in wheat or flour to alter in any way their normal practice as regards carrying stocks. It is quite unnecessary for housewives to get in extra stocks of flour, as there is no prospect of a shoitage. and prices are being controlled.