British Homes May Go Short Of Sugar: Supplies For N.Z.

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 August 1949, Page 7

British Homes May Go Short Of Sugar: Supplies For N.Z.

WELLINGTON, August 17 (P.A.) —The 10,000 tons of sugar to be imported this year would taste bittersweet because of the knowledge that it would probably be obtained at the expense of British housewives, said Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga), in the House of Representatives today, when the Minister, of, Industries and Commerce (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) revealed that’the sugar was to be imported from Britain. Mr Nordmeyer had submitted a written answer to a question from Mr J. T. Watts (Opposition, St Albans). Mr Nordmeyer said the sugar was being imported by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company from the United Kingdom at a landed price that could not yet be precisely determined. It would be sold at the same price as supplies from, local production.

Discussing the Minister’s reply, Mr Watts said he wondered how the United Kingdom could supply New Zealand with 10,000 tons of sugar, when from all accounts sugar was in scarce supply in that country. Already, New Zealand was importing coal and cement —dollar-earning commodities—-from the United Kingdom, and now sugar. Effect Of Shipping

Mr Watts said he thought the cause of the inequitable distribution of sugar in New Zealand was caused by the shipping situation. Sugar was very short in Christchurch and other centres in the South Island, and he asked the Minister to indicate what the position was concerning future supplies, and if distribution problems would be overcome.

Mr Nordmeyer said he was sorry that the Opposition so bitterly resented the Government’s . attempts to augment sugar supplies for housewives. Mi- C. G. Harker (Opposition, Hawke’s Bay): That’s just silly. Mr Nordmeyer said that the one refining works in New Zeaand at Auckland was capable of a certain output only, and, until reorganisation had been carried out, it was unlikely that the full requirements of the country would be met. Shipments of sugar from the United Kingdom would be refined, and would be distributed before the jam-making season. A large distribution would be made to centres in the South Island. Mr Nordmeyer said it was true that sugar was sometimes not distributed to other parts of New Zealand, and one reason was the congestion that occurred last year when merchants did not order supplies that were available, and an accumulation resulted, which meant a loss of 8000 tons of output. The Minister said he had suggested to the company at Chelsea that, because of unfortunate developments on the Auckland waterfront, steps be taken to expedite delivery. Effect On British Mr Doidge: Will the British go without? Mr Nordmeyer: That is a question that might be addressed to the British Government. Mr Nordmeyer said the first shipment of 500 tons would be landed at Bluff. Smaller shipments would follow, and then some large ones. Mr M. H. Oram (Opposition, Manawatu) said that the Minister’s written reply was unsatisfactory, and the additions he had made were equally unsatisfactory. The Minister had failed to dispel the fact that there was a shortage of sugar that had been brought about by the ineptitude, bungling, and inefficiency of the Government.

Mr P. G. Connolly (Government, Dunedin Central) said the shortage was a matter for retailers, and the shipping factor was only incidental. Mr T. E, Skinner (Government, Tamaki) said that during the war the Chelsea works had held a pistol at the head of the Government, and had said sugar would not be supplied unless they got their price. Mr R. M. Algie (Opposition, Remuera): What a pity it missed the opportunity of pulling the trigger. Mr Langstone (Independent Labour, Roskill) said the position today at Chelsea was that, though the'company had a refinery in Fiji, it preferred to import sugar at a cheaper rate from Java, because there was more profit;

Mr J. K. McAlpine (Opposition, Selwyn). Stabilisation is the trouble.