IMPORTED FOOD

Grey River Argus, 5 September 1939, Page 12

IMPORTED FOOD

Need For Economy N.Z. WELL OFF IN ESSENTIALS. PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, September 4. “New Zealand is in as strong a position as any country of the Empii-e, with its stocks of essential foodstuffs, but care will be necessary in avoiding waste, where possible, of imported foodstuffs,” said the Minister of Supply (Hon. D. G. Sullivan), to-day. Minister instanced care in the use of tea as an avenue for avoiding waste. “There is not the slightest necessity for apprehension over the adequacy of available stocks in the Dominion of the principal foodstuffs,” said the Minister. “Indeed, probably no country in the British Empire is in a better position in this respect than New Zealand, being, as it is, in a position lo produce the essentials of life, such as meat, butter, cheese, milk products, fruit and vegetables, there are, however, certain imported foodstuffs which may require to be conserved, although the majority of these lines are by no means of an essential character, but rather of a nature for which a substantial public taste has been created.” Mr Sullivan mentioned that, in using certain foodstuffs, waste should be avoided where possible, and it was wastage which he was anxious to avoid at present. “Thus,” said the Minister, “I am anxious to enlist the co-operation of the public in conserving the supplies of imported foodstuffs by reducing their purchases to a minimum. The Food Controller has been entrusted with the responsibility of seeing that the available supplies are equitable and carefully distributed, ensuring that, as eyen a distribution as possible will be made should the position warrant further action being taken to conserve our existing stocks, it has indeed been gratifying to me, as Minister of Supply, and to the Controller, to receive numerous offers to assist the Government in every way in carrying out the onerous task it has undertaken. The desire of everyone to co-operate has been so freely expressed since the tragic announcement was made this morning, that I am convinced that, if reason and common sense are exercised, only a modicum of restriction, if any, will be necessary.”