RUSH FOR SUPPLIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26043, 5 January 1946, Page 4

RUSH FOR SUPPLIES

SHOPS SOON SOLD OUT HOUSEWIVES TAKEN BY SURPRISE (P.A.) AUCKLAND. Jan. 4. Faced with the sudden fact that only one day’s supply of bread was- available for the next three days, Aucklanders resorted to something approaching panic buying to-day. Harried housewives, bewildered children sent for the morning’s messages, and indignant husbands roused from office desks by telephone calls from home thronged the shops of the bread vendors in the city and suburbs, and the shelves were cleared with extraordinary speed. The immediate sequel was obviousalternative plans for home baking. Few normal home kitchens, however, boast a supply of yeast, and by mid-day this essential was in heavy demand in the city. Surprised grocers had their stocks sold rapidly in response to the unusual demand, and merchants were called upon to supply replacements. Little Warning With little warning that the supplies available to-day would not be adequate for the week-end, the public as a whole was taken by surprise. In some suburbs where there is normally a bread delivery to the homes on Saturdays, but none on Fridays, it was taken ior granted that the decision not to work on Saturdays would mean a Friday delivery, and it was not until noon or later that many householders realised that there would not be a delivery on either day. Frantic calls to local shops, some by telephone and others in person after hasty trips by car or on foot, were usually unavailing. The bread was sold, and in many cases shops were closed, the result being no fresh bread in these homes between Thursday and next Monday. • Although the normal amount of bread to meet one day’s demand was baked, it was far from sufficient to meet the demand, and most retailers could have sold two or three times the amount they had to offer. In some cases an effort to supply regular customers with their extra needs was made by refusing to sell to the casual callers.

It was obvious that many institutions relying upon the bakers would go short of bread for the week-end, though certain large consumers have thefr own bakehouses, making them independent. The army, which closed its Auckland bakery at the end of December after arranging a contract for bread, was suddenly thrown back upon its own resources, and at one stage an issue of flour and yeast, with the fervent hope that it would be put to good use, was under consideration. Varying arrangements were made at the air force stations. Some were able to arrange an emergency supply of bread to meet the week-end’s needs, and one station at least was relying upon its cooks to produce enough scones to offset the bread shortage. The collier Kaimiro, scheduled to sail for Westport this morning, was delayed for a period while waiting for bread for the voyage. She sailed in the afternoon. Tearooms Face Difficulties

With a number of the city’s tearooms closed for the holidays, those which remained open found it almost impossible to cope with the demand on their services, - and their difficulties were intensified by the bread shortage. Sandwiches and other small goods were quickly consumed, and after that some establishments could provide only toast with tea, coffee or soup. The proprietor of a large restaurant said he had received only 25 per cent, of his usual supply of bread and, unless he could get more, he would have to close to-morrow. Difficulties were created for all the hotels and institutions. Although there will be a delivery at the hospitals tomorrow, the bread will be of the same batch as that supplied to-day, and will therefore be stale. Holiday-makers in beach camps and city dwellers who returned to-day from various resorts were placed in a sorry predicament. Many campers were unable to obtain bread to-day, and, being without adequate facilities ”for the cooking of substitutes, will have to do without or come home.