PRICE OF SUGAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7866, 31 July 1911, Page 5

PRICE OF SUGAR

FEDERAL MINISTER’S THREAT. FORESHADOWS REPEAL OF DUTY. By Telocraph—Press Association—Copyright. MELBOURNE, July 29. Mr Hughes, Actiog-Federal Premier, has announced that he will not have ,tho slightest hesitation in repealing the Customs duty on sugar at the earliest possible moment as a solution of the Queensland trouble. He was not spealcing , for himself alone in this declaration. Referring to the increased price of sugar, Mr Hughes declared that there wore other, monopolies in Australia, but none of them . have the unblushing effrontery to declare their price in the daily papers in this caJJrtus and. indecent fashion. People ware simply expected to pay and look pleasant. The Government, Mr Hughes continued, had imposed a duty of £6 a ton in order to encourage white labour, not to, increase the dividends of the Sugar Company.' If the strike continues the company will sell its stocks, which are ample, at an increased rate, but by reasons of such conduct the reason for the imposition .of the duty would cease. , NO AUSTRALIAN SUGAR FOR EXPORT. (Received July 31, 0.5 a.m.) MELBOURNE, July 30. . Sir Tudor, Federal Minister of Customs, says that Mr Hughes’ statement regarding abolishing tho duty on sugar is practically what he (Mr Tudor) told tho strikers at Bundaberg. The grocers are increasing the price of sugar a farthing a pound. The Sugar Company has refused supplies for export, all available sugar being required locally.