THE SUGAR SHORTAGE

Evening Star, Issue 17314, 30 March 1920, Page 2

THE SUGAR SHORTAGE

TRADER’S POINT OF VIEW. ■- GOVERN ME XT~AD OPT WRONG POLICY. [Special to the ‘ Star.'] CHRISTCHURCH, .March 50. From information gathered from tho retail trade yesterday it appeared that local stocks of sugar were practically exhausted by Saturday. One leading grocer assured a reporter that his stock of white crystal sugar dropped to 201b by the time the trading day was through, and had the Monowai not arrived on Saturday with a consignment of sugar he -could not have supplied any sugar yesterday. The arrival of a fresh, supply affords only temporary relief to the community. Sugar is still to bo rationed, the standard supply of white crystal sugar being 41b and m instances 511>. Whether that allowance can bo maintained for anv time depends entirely upon the coming'to hand, of the next shipment. Questioned as to whether permanent relief was likely in the near future, a leadmg grocer it as his opinion that if the Prime Minister would agree to pay a higher rate to the Colonial Sugar Company the shortage would disappear. le i/ a - Sugar Companycan obtain a more remunerative market elsewhere, was the retailor’s comment. In a time which, owing to abnormal conditions, everything has gone up—in many instances without tho slightest attempt bv the Government to control or check increases—it seems almost folly to endeavor to compel a- company to supply one particular line of domestic necessities without an increase in fair proportion to the general advance riding. The people cannot do without sugar. All over the country,, the question has been asked : What are we to do without fruit? Fruit that is usually' turned into jam is now largely going towards manuring orchard land.” It is believed that an offer to pay the company more for sugar would have the sanction of the people, and had that been done in the first place tons of fruit would have been turned into jam this season instead ox going to waste. “It is now too late, the retailer continued, “to save the situation this year, but if the Government will act in the right way supplies may become normal for next season.