OVER HALF A MILLION FOR SWEETS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 34, 9 August 1921, Page 6

OVER HALF A MILLION FOR SWEETS

It has lately beenpointed out by Mr. Elsdon Best that among • the thingsNwhich the pioneer families of New Zealand did without _ were chocolates. From that picture turn to this :....•

" The amount of imported confectionery in New Zealand now is beyond all reason. Last year £547,000, worth of confectionery was imported," said a con-, fectionery manufacturer while giving evidence at the Christchufch Arbitration ■ Court. " tThat is almost as high as our beer bill," remarked the President of the Court,.Mr. .Justice Frazer.

Confectionery may be considered from two angles—whether it is good in itself, and whether it must necessarily be imported. Too much confectionery, and especially too' much rich confectionery, is bad for everybody. The increasing consumption of chocolates, notwithstanding high prices, is not a proof ,of a higher standard of living, but is merely a concomitant of increased spending power, and really lowers the standard of life. Since, however, all the lectures in the world will not prevent, in times of prosperity, the diversion of too much money intb sweets, and. into over-rich sweets, it is just as well to keep in the country as much aa possible of that money ; and as long as a sufficient supply of reasonably priced sugar can be' assured, Dominion makers of the less elaborate confections should be able, on merit; to' hold their own. In the higher class ako, local manufacture is extending, arid is producing an article comparable with the imported in quality and superior in freshness. Perhaps a lower spending power will induce a better appreciation of what is made) in New Zealand. .In any case, it is fairly certain that this country cannot afford to spend over half a million a year in imported confec* tionery. . ■ ■/.