Is British Housewife Being Robbed?

Chronicle (Levin), 18 August 1949, Page 10

Is British Housewife Being Robbed?

WELLINGTON , August 17. Answeriug -a* questioil about'-sugkr-'b'y Mr. J. T. Watts (St. Albans) in the House of Eepresentatives, Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer said 10,000 tdhs of sugar were being importe'd ' by the ' Golonial Sugar Eehiling Compaiiy from the United Ki-ng'dom at a landed price , which could not yet be preeisely deterinined. It would be sold at the same price as supplies'from local production. ilr. Watts, - diseussing the MiilistCr Js ; reply, .-said he. wonderecl • how tlie United Ivingdom could supply New Zealand with 10,000 tons of sugar' when from all ac'eounts sugar was in StarCe supply in that' country. Already New Zealand was importing coal and cement — dbllar earning' commodities — from the United Kingdom and now sugar. He thOught that the inequitable distribution of sugar in 'New Zealand was caused by the ' shipping situation. Sugar was very short in Christchurch land other centres in the South Island and he asked the Minister to indicate what the position was concerning future supplies and. if the distribution problems would be overeome. 'Mr. Nor.dmeyer said he was sorry that the Oppos'ition so bitterly resented the Government's attempts to augmentthe sugar suppfies for housewives. Mr. Harlcer: 'That 's just silly. Mr. Nordmeyer said that the one refining works in New Zealan'd at Auc'klaud was capable of a eertain output ohly and until reoiganisation had been carried out, it was unlikely that the full requiremeiits o'f the eountry wonld be met. The shipment of sugar from the United Ivingdom would be refined and it would be distributed before the jam making season. A large distribution would oe made to centres in the South Island. •He said it was true that sugar was sOmetimes not distributed to otlier. parts of New Zealand and one reasou was the congestion which oeeurred last year when merehants did not order supplies which were available, and an accumulation resulted which meant a loss of SOOO tons in the output. The Minister said he had suggested to the company at Chelsea that, in vie"w of the unfortunate developments on the Auckland waterfront, steps be taken to expedite delivery. Mr. Doidger xWill the British go without? Mr. Nordmeyer said that that was a question which might be addressed to the British Government. He addecl that the first shipment of 500 tons would be landed at Bluff. Smaller shipments would follow and then -sbme large ones. Mr. M. II. Oram said that the Minister 's written reply was unsatisfaetory and tlie additions he had made Were | equally unsatisfactory. The Ministei had failed to dispel the fact that there was a shortage of sugar wliich had beer brought about by ineptitude, bungling and inefficieucy on the part of the Government. Mr. P. G. Connolly (Dunedin Cen tral) said the shortage was a mattei for the retailers and the shipping fac tor was only incidentah