SUGAR SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23053, 22 June 1940, Page 10

SUGAR SUPPLIES

_♦ ECONOMY URGED BY MINISTER EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION IN N.Z. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, June 21. ' The need for economy in the consumption of sugar, to conserve shipping for more essential purposes, was stressed by the Minister for Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) in a statement to-night. The Minister said that apart from the unnecessary absorption of sterling exchange, there was a drain on shipping which at present could ill be spared for other than really essential needs. Mr Sullivan said that except for the commonplace fact that economy in all things was to be preferred to waste, there might not be the same necessity to restrict the consumption of commodities produced within the Dominion. However, with commodities imported from overseas very different considerations were involved. The Minister said that in reviewing new arrangements fpr the Dominion's sugar supply for the coming year he could not help being struck by the enormous quantity of sugar consumed by New Zealanders —approximately 80,000 tons annually. This was equivalent to 1151 b a person, and from inquiries -it would seem that with the exception of America, New Zealand had the highest per capita consumption of sugar in the world. It was unquestionably excessive,. even from a health point of view.