SUGAR AND TEA

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1939, Page 5

SUGAR AND TEA

REPLY TO MINISTER’S STATEMENT. (Per Press Association —Copyright) WELLINGTON, November 21. The statement the Minister of Supplies issued recently in connection with stocks of sugar and tea has been referred to the Wellington Master Grocers’ Association, which is emphatic that the Minister’s statement is misleading to the public. At- the commencement of the war grocers were requested to co-operate with the Government- in a difficult period by keeping a check on hoarding, by limiting supplies to normal requirements of customers. The trade was happy to co-operate, and had done everything within its power to assist the Government, and serious exception is taken to the statement of the Minister that supplies had not been rationed, either by wholesalers or retailers. Grocers state definitely that they were unable to obtain from wholesailers even their normal requirements of certain lines, and in particular did this apply to sugar and tea. Consequently they were compelled to limit the amounts of these commodities which they could supply to customers. All grocers in Wellington regret the inconvenience caused to customers by this limiting of supplies, and wish to make it quite clear that they are in no way responsible for the shortage. The resolution passed by the Auckland Master Grocers on November in reply to the Minister’s statement, has the full support of the Wellington Association,