SUGAR CONTRACT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 248, 14 July 1921, Page 5

SUGAR CONTRACT

QUESTION OF RENEWAL AGAINST ALLEGED ' SECRECY By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. * Masterton, July 12. The question of sugar control engaged the attention of the Chamber of Commerce meeting thin afternoon, and there ' was some straight talk. "Replies were received from the oliambers of com- , merco at Palmerston North. Canterbury. Auckland, and Wellington in reply the local chamber’s telegram regarding renewal of the sugar contract. ) The two former chambers supported the > local chamber, while the two latter re- • plied in the negative The nr"sident of the chamber (Air. ,/t. C. Major) said that there was nothing definite known as to whether the sugar contract had been renewed or not. If 'jji the contract had been renewed, whv sn when the price of sugar was falling? 'JThe Wellington Chamber of Comnywcb > fanemed to be in sympathy with the ' cJploninl Sugar Company in that the lat- " •fer ihad not made bigger profits during tho Xvnr. Mr. -P- M. Graham asked whv there was neetd for secrecy on the part of the the Government if a renewal of the Sugar contract had been signed. The secrecy did not reflect credit on tho Government or the responsible department. Jhva and other sugar wa« now mming or) to the market. A lot of Germr/n beet sugar would be placed on the market before long. Tn Australia the price of sugar was lower than in the "Dominion. b'ugnr was now sd. nor lb. in Melbourne. "Before tho war the price of sutrar was fid. ner lb., and nt this price th* Colonial Sugar Company made a handsome nrofit. They had ( heard much about the cost of labour and tho high wages paid to sugar workers, hut what did thev find? Before the war coolies received 2s. per day, while to-day they received tho enormous sum - of 2s. fid. 1 i Mr. Major <q>id that the chief objection came from Wellington. A member: Perhaps thev are more 'deeply interested in a certain direction ’ "than anpenrs on the surface. "Mr. J. Cnrelherg stated that what the chambers of commerce should concentrate upon was to hnv ß Government control removed from ■ private trading. Other, members agreed with this. Mr. Major moved: "That the Minister ‘ of Industries and Commerce be written to inquiring whether the siwor contract has been renewed and whether it is intended to restrict tho importation of sugar frnm other countries.” The motion was carried.