SUGAR SUPPLIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 March 1937, Page 7

SUGAR SUPPLIES

BRITISH PRODUCTION

[BRITISH pITU’IAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, March 10.

The coming international sugar conference figured largely during question time in the House of Commons. The Colonial Secretary (Mr. W. Ormsby-Gore) said that exports of sugar from British colonies had been 782,000 tons in 1933, 751,0.00 tons .in 1934, 851,000 tons in 1935, and 1,0.00,-j 000 tons last year, and that in considering any suggestion at the conference of a quota for British colonies the latest figures would be taken, into account. Regard must- be paid to the fact that the principal foreign sugar exporters had reduced -' their production substantially yvhile British colonial production had ,been expanding, but subject to that, the desirability of ensuring that’ the British colonial Empire should receive a fair share of any increase in the home demand for sugar would be borne in mind.

The House also might be assured that no agreement involving the regulation of the exports of British colonies would be applied to them unless it. also covered all countries whose production was important for the world market.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore also said that he bad arranged that a committee of representatives of the principal colonial producers would be available for consultation With the British delegation to the conference.