SHORTAGE OF SUGAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2770, 13 May 1916, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF SUGAR

■ : SCARE THE PRINCIPAL CAUSE..: The question of 1 the supplies of'sugar was brought before the House of Representatives (yesterday by 3lr'; C. H. Poole (Auckland-West), who, after quoting the published statement, regarding the quantities of sugar recently exported, read,, the following telegram received by him from Mr, CI B. King,, secretary, of the Auckland Master BakeVs and Pastry Cooks' Union:—"Jly union at a general meeting, confirmed' your altitude re sugar. Supplies are so curtailed that- branches of the business are almost at a standstill.' Some are compelled, .to use icing and brown, sugar. Relief is imperative." Mr. Poole asked the Prime Minister whether he could suggest any method of giving relief to the branches of trade refer-' red to. -

_ Mr. Massey. said that the matter was. [in the-hands of the Board of Trade. He | understood that the'present difficulty had arisen from the fact' that many people | were'alarmed because, the present arrangement between the.'Government and the company would come to an end at the eiid of June,-and because of a fear that the price would probably bo serious-* .increased from that. date. Negotiations' had been proceeding between {he Board of Trade mid the company, and he .hoped that the present arrangement would be continued. He believed that this arrangement v,'as a very good one, not only'from the point of.'view of people of the country, but also from the company's point of view.-' He thought .iliat'it would-be in the interests of.the company quite as-.much as those of the consumers that the present arrangement should continue until the end'of the. war.

JJr. T. .11.-AVilford: Ave wo exportrog any sugar?

Sir. Afassey: I balievs some has boon exported, but it must be remembered that sugar is not'/manufactured'in the Dominion. It is only refined here. 7ilr. 0. Witty: lias any refined sugar been exported? Mr., Jl'assey: A certain quantity "luis been- export?!!. ■ The Board of Trade and myself, uro'doins our'best in the matter, and I hope that foine satisfactory .arrangement will be made. - •• Later in the afternoon, Mr. "-Massey stated that lie' had received a further 'communication from the Board of Trade, to the effect that (lie negotiations \yith the Sugar Company were'approaching, completion. / "The price of sugar -will not be increased .for the present," he said. "1 am able to say that, and T believe it will not 1». increased at all." Ho was makincr this statement in order f o relieve tlse anxiety that, had been esoressed over and over again in the Ho",«e. Ho would lnve.a further communication to mike when -negotiations were.com-' pleted.'