PRICE OF SUGAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10966, 30 July 1921, Page 7

PRICE OF SUGAR

“A SATISFACTORY POSITION.” BOARD OF TRADE’S “HARA KIRI.” Mr W. J. Poison (Fordell), who, with Mr J. A. McPherson (Oamaru), waited upon the Board of Trade in the interests of farmers, reporting to the Farmers’ Union conference yesterday, said that the members of the Board of Trade had given them information in respect to the price of sugar that was considered highly satisfactory. The conditions of the present and future contract with the refining company were explained in detail,, and it was made apparent that the new contract would prove, of greater benefit to the consumer than the old one. The figures had been made available, but it would not be right for him to make them public. The bogey in regard to Java sugar had also been satisfactorily disposed of. It had been said that the Sugar Refining Company had made fabulous profits out of the sale of sugar. It was true that the company had mado large profits, but not out of the sale of sugar in New Zealand. In other parts of the world sugar at the time was almost double the price the Dominion paid for it, and it was outside New Zealand that the profits were made. Regarding the life of the Board of Trade, he was m a position to say that it was going to commit “hara Itiri” and would go out of office in June next. Mr McPherson said that he and Mr Poison were perfectly satisfied that the community was under an obligation to the 'Government and the Board of Trade for what had been accomplished m respect to sugar. The consumers should he well satisfied with the excellent service that had been given by the Board of Trade.