THE PRICE OF SUGAR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1713, 2 April 1913, Page 6

THE PRICE OF SUGAR.

—4 — . AN INCREASE—AND WHY. (By Tclcsra'ph.—Press Association.) Chrislchurch, April 1; It is understood that tlio increase futile prico 'of sugar, announced locally, from 2Jd. to 21d. per lb. 1 is due to the action by the Colonial Sugar and Kefining Company 'as the result of the Mceutf cases under the, Commercial Trusts Act. Without going into the legal aspects of tho' matter—nn appeal has been' lodged against the judgment of the Supreme Court in, tho cases referred to, ami is to v bo heard on.April 14—it appears that (he company has notified its clieilts that the discount of 5 per cent, hitherto aliened to cover tho cost of, distribution and to, forth, and representing about JEI per ten, is to be discontinued as from April 1 and that the prico of sugar will bo ns listed. Although tho tompany has rot altered its price to merchants, sugar is now costing merchants approximately £1 'per ton inoro than it did when tho company gave tho 5 por cent discount. As to the reduction mado locally about two months'ago it is claimed that it was not quite justified,, as at 2{d. per pound tho murgin of profit, to the grocers, was such that tho sugar hardly paid for its hMi\lling, and was not bearing its proper, proportion of general expenses of business. .