SHORT SUPPLIES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 27 May 1915, Page 4

SHORT SUPPLIES.

BUTTER AND SUGAR PRICES.

ALLEGATIONS AND DENIALS.

\Y CABL»-PftKßß ASSOCIATIOJ?-<3OFrBIGHT. SYDNEY, May 26. JJisgruntled butter buyers declare butter is being secretly stored because merchants expect the Government to> advance the price. There '# more truth in the claim that curtailment is due toY early winter conditions lessening the cream production. The weatner lately has been very cold. The Commodities Commission ha» favorably replied to the trade request tor a further increase in the price of butter. The advance will be fixed later MELBOURNE, May 26 In connection wi^h the threatened eugar shortage, a special Gazette under the War Precautions Act has been issued giving the widest possible powers to officers in the AttorneyGreneral's Department to enquire into matters relating to the sugar question including a right to search and impound documents and arrets if necessary. Replying to questions m the House, Mr Hughes said the Government wa* bound to ensure the supply of vital foodstuffs. It wa» alleged by the hie: combines that there would be a shortage ot sugar, at the present juncture i\o-Question was of more vital importance. The Government had exercised its powers and taken, steps to ensure an adequate supply.

T iV + J^PF^May 26. In a letter published: in tne press *k aay, Mr Knox, general; manager of tbeColonial Sugar Company,. says: "In reference -to- the threatened-Tsugar short^ age it will be of interest to the public <to know that the autho*iiiie § are at^ tempting to^stpp us from.obtaining 6 m>plies from Java by prevenimg. tfe £1 spatch of cables there. On t&e 20tb w© received an offer of sugary, aixd on the same date replied accepting as. far aa sugar a,vajla,b| ? for, July, is, coßcern^L .We agam^cabled- a reply,, but; «ofc. ji* ■answ^,^ W« jean only; nassume i£ *Z also held,back." He concludes? "5 would be interesting to know if ti» object was to bring about a sliortage which we wished to prevent. Ir Questioned in the House, Mr HTushea said it was, not true that the Gb^rnment refused to allow Mr Knox; to> eet Java supplies. ■'■■■' s