SUGAR SUPPLIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 57

SUGAR SUPPLIES.

MILD SYSTEM OF RATIONING. CHRISTCHURCH, June 8. During a brief visit, to Christchurch this week the secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Air J. W. Collins. was waited upon by representathes of alt the leading merchants in Christchurch in regard to the present position of sugar supplies. Mr W. Botlerill, on behalf of the deputation, stressed the difficulties that had occurred in meeting the local demand for sugar, which was alleged to be due in part to short shipments by regular boats from Auckland, and to increased supplies given to manufacturers. In reply, Air Collins slated that he would make inquiries regarding lhe question of short shipments. He assured the deputation that supplies had been distributed quite equitably between merchants and manufacturers. In regard to sugar supplies generally the Government was making available to all traders sufficient sugar for all normal requirements. Owing, however, to the fact recently publicly announced by the Prime Minister that the demand for sugar had been o abnormal as lo absorb an extra quantity of approximately 5080 tons during the recent jam season, a mild system of rationing had been resorted to, whereby customers were boin>* restricted to quantities equivalent to the purchase made during the noima! period when no restrictions whatever existed, and merchants were free to order the'r full trade requirements. Mr Collins pointed out that there was ample raw sugar available at the refinery in Auckland to give a weekly outnut of refined sugar in excess of the normal consumption. This output would be maintained right up to the period cf completion of the Government control in August next. Regarding the eomplcints made by many grocers and consumers that they cannot purchase sugar with the same facilities as during this period last year, Mr Collins replied that if this was the case the ordinary distribution—apart from the demand due to increased population over last year—was being departed from. Already inquiries made by the Government into sugar transactions between merchants and grocers showed that there was a good deal of duplication of orders by grocers, who were buying sugar from several sources, instead of adhering to their regular supplier. Some grocers were thus able to supply extra sugar in the hope of securing new general customers. This phase was fully discussed by the deputation, and Mr Collins promised that if the complaints continued in Christchurch investigation would be made into stocks, and those who were hoarding supplies and not playing the game with their customers would run the risk of having their supplies of sugar curtailed.