DELAY OF SUGAR AT AUCKLAND

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1948, Page 6

DELAY OF SUGAR AT AUCKLAND

FSpecial to “Argus”]. WELLINGTON. January 15. Delays in the loading of sugar from the stores in Auckland, and inadequate shipping space, are preventing many Wellington district housewives from cashing extra ration coupons for jam-making. Relief is expected in Wellington early next week. The coastal vessel Waiana is due from Auckland with a cargo of sugar on Monday, and will be followed at the end of the week by the Waimarino. Wellington’s quota will be discharged as quickly as possible, and, the ships will continue to Lyttelton, Timaru, Dunedin and Bluff, which are in a more serious position than Wellington. The South Island, especially Southland, has little sugar to meet allocations till more arrives. Partially responsible for the shortage is the fact that the sugar works at Auckland have only just completed their annual three weeks’ holiday, which means that January’s allocations of sugar are late in arriving. FRUIT PLENTIFUL There are ample jam fruit supplies available in the various districts affected by the sugar shortage. Taranaki grocers have had sufficient sugar to meet reasonable demands, but most are awaiting their next allocations. The Colonial Sugar Refining Co., Ltd., Auckland, has stated that it has plenty of sugar in stock to meet all orders, but that bulk deliveries will be made to southern centres first. Wholesalers in Invercargill are unable to complete grocers’ unfilled permits for the December-January period. Retailers there are awaiting fresh supplies before they can distri- j bute sugar for jam-making.