SUGAR AND TEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23505, 16 November 1939, Page 12

SUGAR AND TEA

DENIAL OF SHORTAGE CONTROLLER'S STATEMENT UNNECESSARY APPREHENSION [by tklkghapii—rur.ss association] WELL]XGTON, Wednesday Statements alleging that there is n shortage of sugar and tea were criticised by the sugar controller, Mr. B. L. Dnllard, in an interview to-night. He said that such statements were distinctly unhelpful in these difficult limes. The consuming public was hvper-sensitive and such statements tended to create quite unnecessary apprehension by giving rise to the idea that there really may be a shortage.

"My purpose, however," said Mr. Dallard, "is not to discuss wartimo publicity ethics or the psychology of panic buying, but to state the actual facts, so far as sugar is concerned. To ensure that there would be no hitch in the continuity of supply, arrangements were made by the Government with the sugar company as part of the pre-war planning for substantial reserves to be built up. At the outbreak of war, there wero sufficient stocks in New Zealand to meet normal requirements for five months. Subsequently, further arrangements were completed to ensure supplies at a fixed price for nearly 12 months ahead. Panic Demand "Merchants were all circularised by me, advising them that because of the adequacy of supplies, it was not proposed to ration sugar by the Government, but to leave it to the trader to condition the distribution. A measure of conditioning proved essential for the reason that, notwithstanding assurances given to the public, a panic demand set in immediately after the outbreak of war. This laid distributors bare of their stocks, and it has been most difficult to overtake the position in spite of all possible efforts to do so by increasing deliveries to merchants. "Steps taken to this end show clearly that there was no warrant for public apprehension, and that there is no real shortage. During September and October no less than 15,248 tons of refined sugar were delivered from Chelsea, compared with 12.4GS tons for the same period in the previous year, and in that year deliveries were exceptionally high. Arrangements have boon made to further increase deliveries for November to March to ensure that ample sugar will be available for jam making, etc. Heavy Consumption

"New Zealanders arc the sweetest toothed people in the world," added Mr. Dallard. "The average annual eonsumption per capita is 1151b., and although medical men advise that it probably would be in the interests of better health to cut this huge consumption down by at least one-third, that is not the object of sugar control; it is to ensure adequate supplies at the most reasonable price possible. The public can rest assured that this lias been done and normal buying on their part will prove it."