SUGAR CONFERENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22675, 12 March 1937, Page 11

SUGAR CONFERENCE

ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN COLONIES* INTERESTS (Received March 11, 6.5 p.qj.) British Wireless RUGBY, March 10 The forthcoming International Sugar Conference figured largely in the House of Commons to-day at question time. The Colonial Secretary, Mr. W. Ormsby-Gore, stated that exports of sugar from British colonies had totalled 782,000 tons in 1933, 751,000 tons in 1934, 851,000 tons in 1935 and 1,000,000 tons last year. In considering any suggestion at the conference of a quota for the British colonies the latest figures would be taken into account. Regard must be paid to the fact that the principal foreign sygar exporters had reduced their production substantially while British colonial production had been expanding. However, subject to that, the desirability of ensuring that the British colonial Empire should receive its fair share of any increase in the home demand for sugar, would be borne in mind.

The House also might be assured that the agreement involving the regulation of the exports of the British colonies would not be applied to them unless it also covered all the countries ■whose production was important for the world market.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore also stated that he had arranged that a committee of representatives of the principal colonial producers would be available for consaltation with the British delegation to the conference.