“REAL” PRICE OF SUGAR

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30206, 10 August 1963, Page 12

“REAL” PRICE OF SUGAR

P.S.A. Demand For Inquiry (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 9. “The people of New Zealand are entitled to know a lot more than they have been told about the inflated price which they are still, albeit indirectly. paying for their sugar." said a Statement issued by the Public Service Association today. “This association publicly asked on June 18 that an inquiry be ordered into the real basis of the so-called ‘world price,' the relationship between the parties fixing it, and the extenit to which our local price is directly affected by it.

“That has not been done. Instead, the Government has come to an agreement with the company concerned which is wholly to the advantage of the company, and wholly to the disadvantage of the consumers.

“The Government is apparently relying on the reduction of the actual retail price to blind the consumers to the fact that they are. in fact, paying the full inflated price “It goes without saying that the company, which has a monopoly in this field, will reap an invaluable benefit from the concealment of the real price, by the fact that it will not suffer from the consumer resistance which would naturally have resulted if this arrangement had not been entered into, and the consumers had to pay out in cash what they are still paying indirectly.” A thorough investigation was needed, said the statement.