FOOD SUPPLIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20864, 17 August 1942, Page 5

FOOD SUPPLIES

N.Z. EMERGENCY NEEDS DISPERSAL IN BULK E.P.S. DISTRIBUTION WORK (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister of Civil Defence, the Hon. W. A. Bodkin, remarked to-day jthat through the Minister of Supply and Munitions, the Food Controller had established bulk supplies of foodstuffs at a number of places throughout the Dominion and these would be available in an emergency for immediate needs of the areas affected, directly or indirectly, by enemy action. In an ordinary emergency, the “business-as-usual” practice would be followed. In a serious or extreme emergency, distribution might have to be taken over by the E.P.S. to whom I the necessary supplies would be made available by the Food Controller. One of the important advantages of having those supplies under Government control was that their dispositions had been arranged on a plan to permit supplies to be converged on the affected area from several points, if necessary. In an actual, .emergency, the controller of the supply committee of the E.P.S. could be empowered to requisition retail supplies of goods required by the E.P.S. for victualling E.P.S. workers or for meeting the needs of the local community. It would also be competent for such controller to control shops and ration supplies, and to requisition buildings for E.P.S. purposes. Mr. Bodkin further commented: “While everything practicable is being done to assure supplies of food and other needs for emergencies, it is very important for people to act. on the principle of self-help from their own resources within reasonable bounds.