FACT ABOUT SUGAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10688, 7 September 1920, Page 5

FACT ABOUT SUGAR

HOARDING REVEALED DECLINE IN THE SALES OF. LOWEK GRADES. BOARD OF TRADE'S WORK. 'Events have proved thai thousands of households in New Zealand saved sugar in anticipation of an increase of price or an interruption or reduction of supplies," remarked the chairman of the Board of Trade (Mr W..G. McDonald) yesterday to a "New Zealand Times" reporter. "No doubt many a home built up a little reserve by careful economy—a certain measure of self-denial—but it is believed that others did some hoarding by \arious ruses and false pretences. It cannot be too strongly emphasised that any person who schemes for more than a fair share of sugar in these days commits an offence against -the basic principles of good citizenship. The Board of Trade is taking all practicable precautions—short of drastic inquisitorial measures, which it does not wish to ensure an equitable allocation of supplies for households, but selfish persons may have managed to work a kind of 'confidence trick' among grocers in the past. Many persons fairly, others unfairly, were ready for the rise in price, and the household demand fell when the new schedule Game into operation., One striking proof that many householders had reserves of sugar was found in the fact that they declined to accept the lower grades (soft and dark). Bpfore tho price tosc the lower grades went into household consumption easily, but there has been a different attitude. lately. It is a fair deduction that tho persons who refused to accept the soft sugar had other sugar to carry them on until they could obtain the first quality article.' It is necessary to explain at this point that eoft sugar is not a deliberate - product Of the refinery. In the ordinary process, of refining, a ton of raw sutrar yields certain .proportions of first quality sugar and lower grades—er's crystals, < golden, syrup,' treacle, and molasses. In these days people should ; be willing to accept a proportion of the lower grade sugar when the quantity of first grade available for household purposes may be temporarily short- of requirements." SWEET-EATERS SUPREME.-

"Although many members of- the public have complained about shortage of sugar,'' continued Jlr McDonald, "it is a fact that the consumption of sugar is higher in New Zealand per head of population than it is -in - any Other : country of the world. Here are the figures in pounds, taken from the 'Official - Year Book/ up to 1918:—Year 1913-14, 128.80; 1914-15, 99 68; 1915-16, 129.92; 1916-17, 120.06; 1917-18, 133.43. Sine* .1918 this high rate has heen maintained. People of the United States believe that they have a very high average consumption of sugar, but the rate there in 1918-19 was 851 b per head (between 401 b and 501 b below that of New: Zealand). - In- the matter of prictf New' Zoalande'rs have better treatment than any other people in the world (including Australia). , TWO FACTORS QF SHORTAGE. "Though the Colonial Sugar Company's supplies have'heen. well maintained, a certain, measure of shortage has teen felt, for two reasons. Prior to 1915, about 90 per cent, of the high-class confectionery consumed _ in New Zealand was imported, hut eineo that year'the- importations have fallen away to the extent of about 80 per cent. Th'e sequel has been a great expansion of manufacture of confectionery within the Dominion, with a corresponding increase in the consumption of sugar for this purpose. In normal years also a certain amount of Java, and other sugar came into the Dominion as an addition to the Colonial Sugar Company's supplies, but those extras are now at a very heavy price, which his checked orders. For example, laet : "year there was only one importer of Java -sugar. (300 tons). ORDER OF. ALLOCATIONS.

. "In the.allocation of the available supplies for various in New Zealand, the Board of Trade works on the following . classification: —(1) . Household: This class includes accommoda- ' tion-houaes (hotels, boardinghouses, etc.), which have, first cal-1 on the sugar (2) jam manufacture and fruitprteervjng .(including home-made jama); (3) bakers and pastrycooks, manufacturers of biscuits and essential foodstuffs, vinegar, sauce/ and jelly crystals; (4) sugar-boilers and confectionery, ice-cream; (5) cordials, aerated waters and syrups; (6) brewing. "Very little first-quality sugar is absorbed by the brewing industry. In the refining of sugar there is a byproduct known as invert 6Ugar, used exclusively by brewers^ —indeed it cannot be used for any other purpose. The sugar "used by all the larger brewcries is» wholly the invert kind. "In the case.of shortage the groups would be supplied in accordance withthe above classification. ' "The Board of Trade has figures to prove that manufacturers of jam and biscuits, bakers and pastrycooks (groups 2 and 3) have been receiving this year a« much sugar as they have obtained in previous years. . "The supply for confectioners is not at present equal to the demand (which has grown largely duringjihe past five yeara), for the reason given in a preceding part of this stament. "Supplies for domestic use 4re based on grocery turnovers, of which confidential information is supplied by the retailers to the Board of Trade. Merchants nominate the retailers who arc their customers, and the allocations for the retailers are in a fixed proportion to the turnover of the whole business. Approximately the board's working estimate of domestic consumption is one'pound-a week per head of population. "NO RED-TAPE ENTANGLEMENTS." "It is an unwritten law of the Board of Trade," concluded the chairman, "that immediately its functions require it to regulate the distribution of a commodity, it endeavours to do its work with a minimum of friction. No . red-tape entanglements are set up for the business people. The board is a business body which exerts itself to telp in easing the difficulties that arise with shortage of supplies, but is not a 'busybody' bent on harassing merchants or retailers who do their best to comply with the regulations. This reasonable, helpful attitude of the board ia recognised by fair-minded traders, who constitute the great majority ot business people. If any manufacturer feels that he is suffering a. set-back by not receiving as much sugar ae ho re-

quires, he can comfort himself with the assurance that the Board of Trade is doing its best, in difficult circumstances to ensure a fair deal for tho wholo population of New Zealand. As the Board of Trade is also the Department of Industries, it i 9 naturally eager to help in arranging supplies of mater, ials needed by industries, on which large numbers of bread-winners are dependent. The board is confident that within a measurable future all manufacturers will have sufficient sugar to meet the local demand for various products."