MERCHANTS BLAMED

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16635, 18 January 1922, Page 5

MERCHANTS BLAMED

FOR SUGAR SHORTAGE, l From On Correspondent.] WELLINGTON. January 17. An explanation of the delay in sugar shipment from Auckland to Wellington was sought by Air Sykes in a question to the Minister in charge of Industries and Commerce. The last boat from Auckland, the Kaiapoi, left on December 17. Since then there had not another, a period of one month, though one was now' due. The irregularity of shipments, said Air Sykes, had led to shortages, which in Masterton had become so serious that for the past two weeks a. rationing system had been put in practice, yet there w r ere 6000 tons in Auckland. He asked the Alinister who was responsible for this bungling, the Board of Trade, the Colonial Sugar Company, or the Union Steam Ship Company. The Hon E. P. Lee denied that there had been bungling bv any of them. He had been warning the public for months that there were full and ample supplies of sugar in Auckland, and he had warned merchants throughout New Zealand when freights were available to lay in supplies as a rush for sugar for jam making always came at this time of the year. It seerfted that merchants had been living from hand to mouth, qnd the consequence was a shortage of sugar in various parts of the Dominion. The fault, therefore, lav with the merchants in not laying in ample stocks to meet the demand. The Alasterton traders had evidently put up a go-slow policy in regard to stocking up with sugar, and he was very sorry the people had to suffer for it. POSITION IN DUNEDIN. [From ( >cr Correspondent.] DUNEDIN, January 17. Sugar is again in short supply in Dunedin. Unfortunately the scarcity conies at a time when heavy consignments of jam fruits are arriving from Central Otago. Apricots are being marketed by the ton. They have ripened this season somewhat earlier than usual. Fruit auctioneers say, however, that the temporary bareness in the sugar market is not causing a block in the fruit trade. Persons who hold sugar are lashing into their stocks freely, knowing that the State has thousands of tuns under control, and believing that the Department is as anxious to put this sugar into consumption as the people are to get it. Momentary scarcity is brought about by the rough weather recently experienced in the north. The AVingatui was delayed on lier upward trip, consequently the date of her der arture from Auckland with the next consignment for the south had to be postponed. In order to help Dunedin as much as possible in the circunirtanees the Board of Trade has arranged witli the Union Company that the Wingatui shall come to Dunedin before going on to the Bluff, and she is, therefore. due here on Friday of this week, although it wo 11 probably he Monday before her sugar is delivered.