SUGAR STILL SCARCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17649, 9 December 1920, Page 8

SUGAR STILL SCARCE.

POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH. SUPPLIES QUITE INADEQUATE CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT. [bt telzobaph. — cobrespgicdekt.] CHEISTCHURCH. "Wednesday. " Another sugar shortage," said _ a grocer _. this morning. "It is getting monotonous. We have not an ounce, and other stores are in a similar position. This comes just at a time when people •want extra sugar for Christmas cooking, and I think -we- have a right to be indignant. The Government has promised all sorts of things. It has accomplished nothing but a rise in price, accompanied by frequent 'hold-ups' in supply. The sugar wo got last week was insignificant." Even under . a very low distribution rat* the supplied of sugar that came to hand during November were much below the amount stipulated. Complaints were made to the Board of Trade officials, and the result was a promise that the allotment would be increased by one-third, so as to allow, retailers to meet the'heavy summer demands. A .shipment of sugar from Auckland is expected at Lyttelton on Friday; The total amount is 450 tons, of which a proportion is for manufacturers. Further pressure is being brought to bear on the Board of Trade with a view to grocers securing supplies of icing 6ugar for the Christmas trade, Retailers find the demand growing. "Java sugar is finding its way on to the New Zealand market, but the present price makes it almost prohibitive to consumers." said one merchant. " A largo shipment came to the South Island during November but it was for manufacturing purposes only."