PRICE. OF SUGAR

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 169, 5 April 1923, Page 6

PRICE. OF SUGAR

INCREASE OF U PER POUND FIJIAN SUPPLIES FAIL Merchants have been advised that an increase of Jd. per lb. in the price of sugar was made as from yesterday, making the maximum retail price of 4d. per lb.

In referring to tho necessity for the increased price of sugar, tho Minister of Industries and Commerce (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) stated last, night that the }d. increase was due to the failure of the Fijian crop and to the abnormally heavy demand on supplies at the Chelsea works during the jam season. During the past three months, just uuder 5000 tons over and above the quantity for a similar period last year had been distributed for consumption. Arrangement for Cheap Sugar. Tho public had taken full advantage of the Government’s arrangements foi an abundant sujipiy of cheap sugar for jam-making purposes, and this • was evidenced by the fact that the deliveries for the jam season constituted a record for tho past twelve years, and although earlier statistics were not available,’ Mr. Massey believed the quantity delivered since December last liad never been exceeded in the history of the Dominion. At the commencement of the |am 'season, tho Government had 5500 tons of refined sugar in stock at Chelsea. That quantity has all gone into- consumption, and, but for the fact that tlie weekly ‘melt’ had been increased by 200 tons per week, serious inconvenience to householders would have resulted. The Government had made every effort to ensure that all requirements were fully supplied, and- only during the past month had it been necessary to place any restriction on orders from merchants.

Supplies from Java. “For some time,” continued Mr. Massey, “the Government has been eble,- by the arrangements made, tosupply ’ the best relined sugar at a eheap rate, but the recent conditions in Fiji, coupled with, shipping troubles and merchants replenishing their stocks, have been the cause of a partial breakdown ni those arrangements, and the Government has had to supplement the short Fijian supplies by importing sugar from Java. It will be necessary to put this sugar through a further refining process at Chelsea, as manufacturers particularly have found Java ‘mill whites’ to lie unsuited to their requirements, and it is the desire of the Government, in placing this sugar on the market, that it shall be of the same degree of purity as Colonial IA.”

High Prices Elsewhere. “When the Government decided to purchase Java sugar, the prices were, considerably lower than those- ruling at present, and accordingly it will only be necessary to increase the present price by Jd. per lb., although, on the basis of Javan prices current to-day, an increase of Id. per lb. would be warranted. The New Zealand consumer still has the advantage in the matter of cheap sugar, as tho retail price in Great Britain is Bd. and in Australia- sd. per lb., as compared with tlie new price in New Zealand, to be operative as from yesterday, of 4d. per lb.” Mr. Massev added that ho could assure the public that the arrangements now made by the Government would enable adequate supplies of sugar to be available until the new season’s cron from Fiji was ready, so that there was no fear of a shortage.