NO REAL SHORTAGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 31, 16 November 1939, Page 3

NO REAL SHORTAGE.

THE SUPPLIES OF SUGAR. PANIC BUYING DEPRECATED. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, November 15. Statements alleging that there is a shortage of .-sugar and tea were criticised by the sugar controller (Mr R. L. Dallard) in an interview to-night. He said such statements were distinctly unhelpful •in these difficult times. The consuming public was hypersensitive,»• ; wnd such statements tended- to create quite unnecessary apprehension by giving rise to the idea that there really may be' a shortage. “My purpose, however,” said Mr Dallard, “is not to discuss® war-time publicity ethics or the psychology of panic buying, but to state the actual facts about sugar. To ensure that there would bo no hitch in the continuity of supply, arrangements were made by the Government w(th the sugar company, as part of pre-war planning, for substantial' reserves to bo built up. At the outbreak of war there were sufficient stocks in New Zealand to meet normal requirements for five months. Subsequently further arrangements were completed to ensure supplies at a fixed price for nearly 12 months ahead.

“Merchants were all circularised by me, advising them that because of the adequacy ol : supplies, it was not proposed to ration sugar by tho Government, but to leave it to the trader to condition distribution. A measure of conditioning proved essential for the reason that notwithstanding assurances given to the public a panic demand set in immediately after the outbreak of war. This laid distributors haiye of their stocks, and it has been most difficult to overtake the position ,in spite of all possible efforts to do so by increasing deliveries to merchants.

“The steps taken to this end show clearly that there was no warrant for public apprehension, and that there is no real shortage. During September and October last no less than 15,248 tons for the same period in the previous year, and in that year deliveiies were exceptionally high. Arrangements have been maple further to increase deliveries for November to March, to ensure that ample sugar will be available for jam making, etc. “New Zealanders are the sweetest toothed people in the world,” added (Mr Dallard. “The average annual consumption a head is 1151 b, and though medical men advise that it probably would be in the interests of better health to cut this huge consumption down by at least a third, that is not the object of sugar control, ft is to ensure adequate supplies at the most reasonable price possible. The public can rest assured that this has been done, and normal buying on thoii pai will prove it.” •