SUGARLAND JAM.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 2677, 13 January 1921, Page 5

SUGARLAND JAM.

AN IMPROVED POSITION. SUFFICIENT SUPPLIES AVAILABLE. Some inquiries were made by a '“Post” reporter yesterday concerning the prospects for the season’s jam-making, particularly with reference to the supplies, of sugar available. The substance of the information obtained was that there would be sufficient sugar to meet all requirements, if people accepted this assurance and did not attempt to lay in stocks before they were ready to use them. Prior to the war, New received from 3000 to 5000 tons of sugar annually from Java, but the war stopped these importations, and the Java price rose so high that nothing but diTe necessity warranted purchase in that market. Recon tlv, however, there was a slump in the Java market due to financial difficult ie-s, and prices fell. In these circumstances private orders v\;ere placed from New Zealand, and of these orders some 700 to 800 tons would be landed at the four main ports of New Zealand during January. The Java market had since hardened, and quotations were now being given f.o.b. Sourabava ; but in the meantime New Zealand had bought the quantities given at £45 10s. to £3l 10s per ton. Thisk»OTld provide a certain amount of relief by meeting the domestic demand so that more of the Fiji sugar would be available for manufacturing. From now onr there should be no difficulty with regard to supplies, for the bottom had fallen out of the Cuba market, and it appeared that America would have a considerable surplus of sugar to dispose of.

As to price one authority expressed the conviction that from .now on there would be an easing of the position. Jam should not lie more expensive than at present because of sugar prices, as the price re-adjust-ineuit consequent on the advance in sugar cost had already been made, and there was a fall in. tinplates, which entered largely into packing expenses. The. Government was meeting the requirements of jam manufacturers, and there should be no rev duction. of output on account of sugar supplies. 'Flic fruit crop and labour supplies were the two main factors now entering into consideratio. In Central Otago there had been a isplondud crop, and the jam output should he larger than ever before. This would help to some extent- to make up for any shortage in Nelson i n con sequence of the reduction ■of the fruit crop, which in that district was not up to expectations.