MORE TEA IMPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24000, 25 June 1941, Page 6

MORE TEA IMPORTS

ADDITIONAL LICENCES

BUILDING RESERVE STOCKS Supplies of tea in addition to those previously authorised are to be imported into the Dominion under a policy of purchasing beyond immediate requirements. These extra stocks will be maintained and distributed subject to conditions imposed by the Food Controller, Mr. ,1. F. Thomas. This information lia.s been given to merchants by the Customs Department, which has advised them that they can obtain additional licences to import tea in bulk to the extent of 2o per cent of the value of imports they made in 1038. Merchants were told last month that fhe.v would he supplied with extra licences to the extent of of) per cent of their normal allocation from Ceylon and India, which meant they could importtea to the value of one and a-half times their I!WS imports. The latest concession, therefore, increases the value to one and three-quarter times. A delay in the arrival of supplies from overseas recently suggested the need to conserve stocks, and Air Force stations were instructed to economise in the use of tea. It was stated that this was a temporary measure, and it was subsequently explained by the Food Controller that there was no likelihood of a general shortage of tea, licences issued ensuring plentiful supplies.