SHORTAGE OF SUGAR

Otago Witness, Issue 3429, 2 December 1919, Page 27

SHORTAGE OF SUGAR

SERIOUS POSITION IN CANTERBURY. . {Fbgm Oor Own Cohke&pondentJ CHRISTCHUROH, November 28. Tlie shortage of sugar was worse than it is to-day. Many grocers in town and country districts have none at all, and those whose stocks are not quite exhausted are restricting supplies to individual customers. ■

The shortage is seriously affecting the confectionery industry. In the case of ona large concern employing over 400 hands the normal. consumption of sugar is over 30 tons a week, but to-day the factory is absolutely bare of supplies. Mr M'Dougall, of Messrs Aulscbrook and Co., stated that a number of departments of his works had been compelled to close down, but the hands in the meantime were being retained on other work. The main reason for running out of stocks here appeared to be because the Monowai had been taken off her usual service. In addition the recent refusal by the waterside workers in Auckland to unload SCCO tons of raw sugar had affected the position in tI-3 dominion. A vessel, however, would unload sugar in Wellington on Saturday. It was anticipated that supplies from this source would come to hand on Wednesday. The Colonial Sugar Company appeared to be short of stocks, but the New Zealand publio had little to complain of concerning the price. Java sugar was quoted at over £6O per ton, roughly three times the price ruling to manufacturers here.- In America the manufacturers paid 4|d per lb—about double the dominion price to the trade. It was quite likely that biscuit goods would become dearer, mainly on account of the' high price of butter and eggs.

The following appeared in our Second Edition last week :