THE SUGAR QUESTION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17814, 13 July 1923, Page 10

THE SUGAR QUESTION.

WELLINGTON OPINIONS. (special, to "thb pwesi.") WELLINGTON, July 12. Merchants here express different opinions on- the question of a. protective duty on sugar to keep the New Zealand refinery going. Some say the New Zealand market should be free and the Government should not dictate as to the quality of' sujjar. One merchant stated that the possibility of the works at Auckland being closed was "all bluff," and that the sugar company's balance-sheets showed that they would not abandon the New Zealand market. It is understood, however, in the 'best informed circles that this is not the case, and that the actual figures in connexion with the Auckland works show that if the company had to compete against Java, it would certainly not pay it to keep the Auckland refinery going. Even the Labour men in Parliament, much as they hate the sugar trust, will probably agree that unless the Sugar Company received some consideration, their works would have to be closed down, and between 300 and 400 men thrown out of employment. The actual position is probably best put in the words of one Wellington merchant who says: "If the company closes, we should be at the mercy of the East, with its fluctuating markets. As it is the 4 per cent, which we are allowed by the Sugar Company pays us, for we can get the sugar when we want it, whereas we would have to store Java sugar. The Colonial. Sugar Company has a monopoly, but is it not better to have that monopoly in our own country, under our own Government control, rather than b« under a monopoly outside, with no control? We are getting what we want from our monopoly, and it certainly deserves protection. The Government has decided on that. With the East there would be delayed deliveries. There is now and you never know where you are with those Eastern markets. It needs a specialist to buy in them.. We merchants have not the requisite knowledge of the sugar trade to buy m the East, whereas the Colonial Sugar Company has, and it buys in huge lines, while w'e merchants would have to buy in little lots. Who do you think can make the best deal?" The general opinion seems to be that the Hon. W. Downie Stewart has made a good arrangement with the company, and that Parliament will ratify it. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, .Mr Wilford gave notice, to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs "whether he has received a telegram,, a copv of which is hereunder written, pertaining to the sugar question, and whether he will make a public statement in regard to the statements contained in such telegram?" The following is a copy of the telegram: "Strongly urge insertion of clause that duty retained only so long as Sugar Company is in position to supply all New Zealand orders. We have been consistently, humbugged' by short supplies for years. We can supply in twelve pound parcels only. By tinie customer has purchased seventypound bag/in this way, it has cost oversix times the working expenses. Farmers in distant places have to make six trips to station to get twelve pounds each time, as again.st carting one, bag in one trip, as would be tho case if supplies were adequate. It is ridiculous to talk about sugar works closing down. Duty or no duty, sugar works would still operate. Inconvenience'of importing from Java is sufficient handicap without duty, but certainly provision should bo made for Order-in-Oouncil cutting out duty immediately responsible merchants can prove-Sugar Company 'incapable or supplying requirements-. Wastage or fruit last season through our inability to supply farmers with sugar for preserving was wrong." This will be repeated season by season, unless Sugar Company' know the duty is removable on proof that they are not meeting New Zealand consumers' requirements." DAIRY CONTROL BILL. EVIDENCE TO BE TAKEN. Mr C. P. Agar received a communication from Wellington on Wednesday to tho effect that the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee would meet in Wellington on July 18th for the purpose of'hearing evidence regarding the Dairy Produce Control Bill. The committee decided to invite three representatives from Canterbury of objecting dairy farming and factory interests, to give evidence, the same number in favour of 'the proposed control also being invited.' Mr C. P.. Agar, On behalf of the Canterbury dairying interests, has replied to the effect that the opponents tc the proposed control have no organisation' here, and he would not presume to nominate,, any representatives on their, behalf. He further suggested that, considering that the matter affected produce • to the value of nominally £30,000,000 annually it was of sufficient importance to hear the evidence of anyone affected. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELSGRAaI.) / WELLINGTON, July 12. It has been arranged that the Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee will sit on the 18th inst. and following days, to hear regarding the Dairy Produce Control Bill. It was originally decided to limit the giving of evidence to a small number of representative witnesses, but in view of representations made by opponents of the Bill, this decision has now been modified, and any person desiring to be heard in opposition to the Bill should communicate by telegraph with the clerk of the committee, and make arrangements for being in at tendance at Parliament Buildings on the 18th inst., at 10 a.m. The committee is prepared to give two days to hearing evidence in opposition, and .desires to make it clear that evidencesubmitted should be concise and to the point. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. (Received July 12th, 10.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 12. Oats—Algerian feed and Tasmanian, 4s od to 4s 7d, white 4s 6d to 4s Bd. Maize —Yellow and white 5s lOd to 6s. Potatoes—Tasmanian £l3 to £l6. Onions—Victorian, £6. ADELAIDE, July 12. Oats—'3s 2d to 3s 3d. COAL DEPOSITS IN SOUTHLAND. (special to "not priss.") INVERCARGILL, July 12 A Further boring operations on Mr A. W. Kodgers's property at Birctiwood have revealed a further 'seam of coal at a depth of 1138 ft. An analysis has proved that the coal is fully to the}, standard of bituminous coal. This discovery is of immense value to the province. It is considered that the prospects of locating further seams arc particularly good.