SUGAR STOCKS LOW IN GISBORNE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22877, 22 February 1949, Page 8

SUGAR STOCKS LOW IN GISBORNE

Gisborne grocers who are this week feeling the pinch with the shortage of sugar, are restricting their sales to about 31b a customer. The Colonial Sugar Refining Company, which is supplying merchants on a quota basis, has cuts its weekly supplies down to less than half.

Up until yesterday, grocers were working on their reserve stocks in Gisborne, said Mr. G. J. Gregory, president of the Master Grocers’ Association, ibut those stocks were now exhausted and {he position was acute. Where possible, grocers are making allowances for large families, but it may not be possible to make such allocations permanently. “The average suburban grocery requires about half a ton of sugar a week,” said one grocer, “We’re lucky if we get a quarter of a ton now.” Customers planning jam-making or bottling have been advised against buying fruit until more sugar is ableIntroduction of rationing at this time, it is considered, will lead to increased demand for tinned jams and fruits when householders’ supplies are exhausted. But this demand is not. expected until October or November next, and meantime the main concern of retailers is satisfaction of the demand for sugar. The position is reported to be worse in the South Island, where some grocers have been without sugar for a month or more. The company has overtaken some back orders, but the quota system is expected to remain in force for some weeks.