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Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20137, 5 January 1940, Page 12

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GROCERY SUPPLIES RESTRICTED IMPORTS OUTLOOK FOR YEAR DISAPPEARANCE OF LINES Import and financial restrictions will exercise a considerable check on the food preferences of a large section of the community in the coming year, according to grocery distributors, states the Auckland Herald. This situation has been felt to some extent already, but in the third term licensing period, which has now started, there have been such reductions and prohibitions that many more lines will either disappear from the grocery stores or make occasional appearances only. Higher prices are also likely to restrict consumption of some classes of goods that hitherto were very popular. The late announcement of the terms under which groceries can be imported in the third term delayed ordering to such an extent that there will be certain scarcities until the time lag can be corrected. Table salt is instanced as an example. There is no rationing of table salt in the shops, but it is scarce, and some concerns cannot offer the full range of supplies Dried and Tinned Fruits Percentage reductions on permitted imports of some grocery lines were not stated in the third term plan, as announced by the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nash. These are being determined by the Marketing Department and licenses so far issued with its authority suggest very close pruning generally. Many stocks of dried fruits are exhausted and, from what can be ascertained, Australia is now the only approved source of supply, and there is a close restriction on quantity. So there .will be a dried fruit scarcity throughout the period. Canadian ancl American fruit salad in tins and also tinned oranges, mandarins. raspberries and loganberries will disappear from the market. Licenses to import raspberry, strawberry, gooseberry and loganberry pulps have been refused merchants, although it is believed that quantities will be permitted jam manufacturers for flavouring. The Canning of Apples A popular selling line is pineapple juice, of which Fiji packers hold large quantities for export. But import licenses have been refused for this commodity. New Zealand is considered to be one of the heaviest tinned pineapple consuming' countries in the world according to its population, but licensing restrictions ensure that it will fall far from this position. It is acknowledged that the Government is anxious to develop the fruit canning industry and that restricted imports will assist, but it is pointed out that insufficient pears, apricots and peaches are grown to permit of import deficits being overcome. The Government hopes that the canning of apples will assist the position, and also assist orchardists in view of the export situation. Tinned New Zealand apples arc shortly to appear on the market. Dearer Cornflour There are no supplies of cornflour in many shops. Small consignments will arrive soon from Australia, but at a landed cost that will mean' higher prices. There may be no more ships’ •limejuice in the near future, it is staled, but a commandeer for the Navy is said to be responsible for this slate of affairs. Import licenses have been refused for certain invalid foods. Wholesale stocks of vermicelli and macaroni are practically exhausted and very few retail shops hold any supplies. Further licenses to import have been refused. Twenty-five per cent only of the value of previous importations of desiccated coconut is being permitted importers. Licenses are being refused for bottled Indian chutney, but some supplies are imported in bulk, and bottled locally. Some imported sauces are now unobtainable and most wholesale stocks of health foods were exhausted some time ago. Stocks of Canadian peas and beans are nearly finished. Some lines of olive oil are off the market. So are several classes of olives. Scarcities of Tinned Fish Scarcities of tinned fish are increasing, and many popular brands of salmon are now unprocurable. Wholesale stocks of others are being rapidly depleted, but it is believed that some supplies have been arranged for on long credit terms. Small stocks of sardines came to hand recently, purchased from private London funds. But prices are higher. The price of Norwegian sardines has risen to such an extent overseas that some merchants state they are not using licenses for their purchase. Stocks of tinned herrings are very low and importation is now prohibited. The tea position for the first half of 1940 is stated to be rather obscure. When the serious scarcity developed some time ago importers were authorised to order more by the Marketing Department, being allowed to import above the value of 1938 imports, though not in quantity. As a result there should soon be a more marked improvement, although one popular brand is announced by the proprietary as temporarily off the market. It is now complained that the official . view is that extra tea thus ordered and not yet landed will be counted as third term imports. If this view is persisted in, it is considered that difficulties will arise later.