NO SUGAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3007, 19 February 1917, Page 4

NO SUGAR

SUPPLIES STOPPED IN CHRIST--CHURCH, A development which seems to have caused a stir among Tetailers occurred on Saturday, says the Christchureh "Sun," in respect'to tho sugar supplies, when intimation was received from the Colonial Sugar Company that further supplies are Jiot at present available. A tolegram received: by one local firm' from the Sugar Company, read as follows: — "In view of the uncertainty of vessels loading, only orders booked to date are dispatched. We must decline to receive any further orders, and weekly standing orders are all being cancelled." - The Colonial Sugar Company is tho only source of supply for sugar that tlic local retailers have, and the effect of the action indicated in the telegram quoted is that no more sugar at all can be obtained by retailers- in the meantime. Rumours of pending sugar shortages have been current for some time, and though some retailers may have succeeded in laying in considerable stocks, the big bulk of the retailers are stated, to be carrying scarcely more than onn week's supply, and practically all will, be very hard pushed within a fortnight 'if the interruption in supplies ' continues. The wholesale houses are stated to bo very much in tho same predicament. The demands of the retailers havfl gradually depleted their stocks, and. they will not he able to fill tho retail-' ers' wants for long. For some time past tho supplies of sugar have been restricted considerably under the arjounts ordered, but the latest development suggests tha t oven this restricted supply is not liotv available.