PRICE OF SUGAR.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18407, 14 August 1931, Page 8

PRICE OF SUGAR.

INCREASE NOT JUSTIFIED. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. REFINERY RATES NOT RAISED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association ) WELLINGTON. Thursdaj. In view of the recent imposition of a duty of Ad a lb on sugar, merchants throughout the Dominion immediately adopted the course of sending out sugar with the intimation that the invoices would follow when the prfce. presumably to be fixed by the manufacturers was known. Grocers, therefore. were in doubt as to the true cost to them of this sugar and in many centres increased the price by Ad a lb in anticipation of an immediate increase in the manufacturers’ and wholesale prices. As no increase has been made yet by the main supplier (the Colonial Sugar Refining Company) and as supplies. though “rationed," are still being released at the price previously ruling, merchants in several centres now are invoicing current orders at the old figure, although presumably they will not supply in excess of normal orders. The. Industries and Commerce Department has been in touch with the trade and the merchants in all the main centres have been communicated with through the department's district officers. The Minister of Industries and Commerce desires it to be known that as yet there is no increase in the i price of sugar supplied from the I Auckland refinery and that store- ! keepers in all centres, including proI vincial towns, and grocers throughout i the Dominion, should make no ini crease in sugar prices by reason of ; the advance in the duty until such I time as the manufacturers' price is I increased.

'indignant grocers? ’ MINISTER AROUSES THEIR IRE. PROTEST FROM DUNEDIN. 'By Telegraph—T’r<»gs Association.) DUNEDIN, Friday. Indignation is expressed by grocers at the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle's statement re sugar prices. The president of the Master Grocers' Association stated that when the increased duty was announced. the grocers passed it on to the public, but slocks were then low, there having been excessive drain for grocers’ supplies at the last minute at the old prices. If the new duty proposal was rejected in the House, the public would expect an immediate price reduction. The usual practice was to increase the price with a duty increase, and the Minister’s statement, issued nearly a fortnight after the imposition of the du*y, was most improper. It was absurd to suggest that the grocers should make a refund.