Three problems would arise with regard to perishable commodities in the event of war: the need to secure maximum supplies for the United Kingdom, the need for more orderly marketing² to secure equitable distribution of food which would probably be in short page 41 supply in the United Kingdom, and the need for extra storage capacity in New Zealand against the possibility of shipping delays.

Preparations for bulk purchasing by the United Kingdom of exportable surpluses of food were well advanced when war broke out. The steps which were taken are conveniently summarised in a report by Walter Nash as Minister of Marketing:¹