PRICE FIXING AND SUPPLIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 38, 13 February 1920, Page 6

PRICE FIXING AND SUPPLIES.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Sugar and benzine seem to be at a dead end. Our generoue Government, to protect the public, fixed the price. Quite all right while there are plenty of stocks, but what about the future? Xo business man would sell locally if he could get a better price elsewhere. Is it not possible that exporters are finding infinitely better prices, and freer conditions in other markets than New Zealand for theee two commodities! Consequently, cargoes may not come here, at least it is the logical deduction. This points that the sooner Xew Zealand considers the feasibility of growing sugar beet the better. The question -was well gone into under pre-war conditions, but apparently did not offer sufficient inducement to growers. It may show a prospect of a paying industry under present values. The annual consumption of sugar is, roughly, 57,700 tone, which would require approximately 680,000 tons of 'beet. (As up to 40 tons to the acre could be grown under favourable conditions the area required to be put dorwn would be, say, 15,000 acres. It would be interesting to learn from expert experience what could be given to growers per ton, and see if sufficient inducement would be offered, as compared with other branches of the farming industry.—l am, etc., A. J. G. SCHMITT.