SUGAR RATIONING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25798, 20 March 1945, Page 4

SUGAR RATIONING

REASONS FOR NEW SYSTEM BLACK MARKETING ALLEGED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 19. Mr A. H. Nordmeyer, on behalf of the Minister of Supply, said to-night that it was not correct for the secretary of the Master Grocers’ Federation, Mr R. M. Barker, to say that the federation had not been consulted about the cancellation of the registration provisions for sugar, as all aspects of the subject had been discussed by the Rationing Controller and his officers with the executive and council of the federation. The views of the federation were fully known when the decision was made not to continue with registration. Mr Nordmeyer said that one of the main loopholes through which sugar had escaped was connected with registration. A large number of grocers throughout New Zealand had been disposing of quantities of sugar which had not been collected by registered customers. In the aggregate this amounted to a substantial quantity, and there was no way of closing the gap under the registration system.

The Minister referred to the convictions that had been recorded against grocers for black marketing such sugar and said the saving of sugar at the present time was of more importance than the continuation of registration for the sake of the easy distribution of lines in short supply. Other avenues would be found for the distribution of such items, even if it meant the use of additional coupons.

The Minister added that he felt sure that the grocers would co-operate when they realised that non-registra-tion was one of the things necessary to maintain the ration at the highest possible level.