SUGAR TRADE INQUIRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14924, 23 February 1912, Page 7

SUGAR TRADE INQUIRY.

IMPORTATIONS AND PRICES. METHODS OF COMPETITION. TWO JAM-MAKERS SATISFIED. ' By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright: (Received February.-. 22. 9 p.m.) w ; Sydney. February 22. Giving; evidence before the Sugar Commission, the manager of Messrs. Gibbs and Bright'.* sugar department, said lie was convinced that prices were fixed for sugar so as to keep out importations. People were afraid to deal with his firm because they said that if they did so theSugar Company would drop prices, and they would then be getting dearer sugar than others could get. They were also afraid that the Sugar Company would not supply them again. Ho instanced a case whore ho almost secured an order for 6000 tons of sugar, but it was blocked by the Sugar Company dropping prices. Two jam manufacturers in their evidence said that they. were perfectly satisfied with the manner in which they were'■treated by. the :l Colonial Sugar '*■ Refining Company. They considered the price fair., Ex-Senator Pulsford declared that the duty of £6 a ton all went to the profit of the industry, and meant an annual charge on the people of £1,350,000. ■■•'■] It would be.greater in the future, aggregating £15,000,000 in \ the next ten years. The duty tended to develop Queensland at the expense of the other States.