THE JAM FACTORIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2492, 19 June 1915, Page 15

THE JAM FACTORIES

AND THE SUPPLY OF SUGAR. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Nelson, June 17. Seen to-day regarding a statement made by the Auckland manager of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company in replying to_a telegraphed statement that the "K" jam factory would have to dose down for a period owing to being unable to secure necessary supplies of sugar, Mr. Kirkpatrick said that the manager's remarks, as telegraphed, ivere very unfair to his firm, and some reply was necessary. For instance, it was stated that the Sugar Company was unable to supply companies for speculativo purposes. This implied that his (Mr. Kirkpatrick's) firm had supplies upon which it intended to -make profit in some way. This was absolutely incorrect. All the firm desired was .enough sugar to keep the works going. Further, he had offered to pay an increased price for sugar if it _ could bo supplied, simply to save closing down the works, and inflicting hardship on the workers. Orders booked would use up all the sugar on hand, and all travellers and agents had been telegraphed to instructing them to stop booking orders for jam till supplies of sugar were obtainable. Many orders had already been refused, and the company would have to stop jam making next week. _ ■ _ Mr. Kirkpatrick mentioned that the Sugar Company had supplied his firm with more sugar than last year, as "K" retirements were heavier, solely due to Increased trade. FOOD COMMISSION TO ACT. The short supply of sugar in the Dominion was referred to oy the Prime Minister yesterday, in reply to a. question by a Dominion reporter on the subjeot. "The matter," he said, "will be referred to the Food Prices Commission, who on a previous occasion made an arrangement with the Sugar Company whioh turned out very satisfactorily, and as a consequence of that arrangement the price of sugar in Now Zealand has been considerably below the price of sugar in. Australia."