FIXING SUGAR PRICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23487, 26 October 1939, Page 13

FIXING SUGAR PRICE

TRIBUNAL'S INFORMATION STATEMENT CORRECTED [in' TELEGRAPH—SPEC! AT, REPORTER] W E LLIN GTO N, Wed n cs< 1a y A statement by Mr. 75. Sutherland and others at a meeting of master grocers held in Wellington on October 19 that the Prico Investigation Tribunal had supplied the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, with wrong information, on which be had acted in fixing the retail price of sugar at <ld per lb., was denied tonight by the Minister. He said that rolcrcnce to the tribunal's report showed the statement to bo without foundation. Alter explaining details mentioned in the report, the Minister said that it set out the evidence of Mr. Sutherland himsell and tables of figures supplied by him, as well as evidence of other grocers. The report had not been made public and the grocers had not seen it. Therefore, in making such a statement in reference to the tribunal, they wero acting upon conjecture or incomplete information Very full information was obtained by the tribunal during its inquiry in respect of costs and prices in each of the four main centres, Mr. Sullivan added. He assured the public generally, and the retail grocers in particular, that the report submitted by the tribunal showed evidence of a. desire to l)o fair to all sections of the community concerned with tho sale and purchase of sugar.

The Minister added that the decision reached in regard to the price of sugar had been largely based on tho figures and evidence supplied by Mr. Sutherland and the other grocers concerned.