THE SUGAR CONTROVERSY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15932, 1 June 1915, Page 6

THE SUGAR CONTROVERSY.

INDICTMENT OF COMPANY.

CHARGES BY MINISTER.

SUGAR EXPORTED TO CANADA;

By Telesraph—Press Association—

Meip 'I'RNT. May 31 The Federal Attorney General. Mr. William finches, state? that the Commonwealth sugar shortage i.- estimate nt 16,000 tons. The present stork* "<->i.H be exhausted at the end of .Inly. TV Colonial Sugar Company had mads arrangements to import sufficient to meet the shortage, and the first shipment of 13,000 tons was due in the nmidli. of Julv.

Mr. Hughes, in a lengthy .-Internet to the press, covering the whole position with regard to the supply of .-'ipar, stares that arrang' , ''"' , 'ii.- were made with the Colonial Si. Refining •'•■ in pary to import sufficient Migar '■■ io\rr the shortage, the sugar imported to ha sold at i'lo ,'. ton, an-l the imp-nt duty of £6 per ton to Ik -iisnended during the period the sugar was belli* inn ported.

Summing up the position, Mr. Hughes declares:—" The Sngar tympany ha* >•(». cured control o| the ,;,t. pit-vented effee.'w competition, i.i.nie huge profits, and built up great a.-.-.-:.-. \ hnh are hidden from nublic -rrntim by means of ingenious methods. The company swallows the lion'.- share of a great Australian industry, and has treated the grower, distributor, and consumer with contempt uour indifference. It knew of the impending shortage. No one else did know, nor could have known. But the company neither took steps to meet the difficulty, nor did it disclose the information until the price had risen, and the opportunities for freight had become still more re.-tricteo. Then, when the community was, a.s it thought, helpless, it spoke with an assumed air oi great concern, and offered to come to the relief of the poor peoples provided that it could be assured of its profits. Had the public been notified, arrangements could have been made to meet the shortage on much more Advantageous terms." Mr. Hughes alleges that six day* before it notified Mr. W. A. Holman, the Premier of New South Wales, of the shortage, the company exported 3000 tons to Canada. Mr. Knox, the manager of the company, promises to reply to Mr. Hughe/s state* Bent.