SUGAR SUPPLIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 11 July 1923, Page 9

SUGAR SUPPLIES.

PROPOSED IMPORT DUTY.

TRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM WE LLINGTO X, T uesduy. The Hon. W. D. Stewart, in the course oi' a Ministerial statement in the House of .Representatives this aftoriiooti, said that some time ago the Colonial Sugar Company had intimated to the Government that unless a protective duty of £1 per ton was placed upon imported refined sugar they would have to close down the Auckland Refinery, as they were unable to conipeu with the cheaper Java sugar. 'the matter was referred by the Government to the Industries Committee oi the House, and during the past, few days ihut committee bad taken the evidence of merchants, manufacturers ami ol.hers, who bad stressed the necessity of maintaining ample supplies oi A 1 ngar, which was largely used in sonic r,i our most important indusiries. As a result of consideration given to the matter the committee reeoinmenduct that an import duty should be imposed mi refined sugar amounting to J-~ lbs bl per ton, and the House v.ieli be asked to ratify that proposal. 'lbis preieretieo, lie said, Mould enable tin Colonial Sugar Company s refinery a; Viickland lo continue operations, and I hal was, in itself, a matter oi si me importance, as a largo number ol bands employed there. The p.reposed .hue. if imposed, would continue until ■ i>i.ontier, 1991, when it eouid be reIf there was no opportunity of ngiup. down a Tarilf Bill during the low weeks, probaliiv Ibe 1 bare mild be asked to pass a resolution, iv I uc! i would place Ibe mu tier hevo’--. i! nll b i . and i belt the me pel; ■n t - and the eompany would know exactly ulsi io 1 lIeV Si ond.