THE SUGAR SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2473, 28 May 1915, Page 5

THE SUGAR SHORTAGE

■ FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND MR,. ' KNOX. ' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. May 27, 8.5 p.m.) Melbourne, Mav 27. In the Federal Houso Sir. \V. M. 1 Hughes (Attorney-General), in reply to questions, said that Mr. Knox's cablegram accepting the offer of 2SOO tons of Javan sugar at a price something over £16 per ton was delayed for twenty-four hours; no other messages were delayed.. Ho oxplained that Mr Knox had said that 11,000 tons had already been bought, and the Government was "endeavouring to ascertain the circumstances of the purchase, so that it might know whether the price asked by Mr. Knox was a fair one. He added that as the result of his inquires, Australia would be supplied, for the Government could ensuro that tho full quantity of sugar would be available. The above discussion relates to a letter which was published in the Press on Wednesday by Mr. Knox, general manager of the Colonial Sugar Company, in reference to the threatened 6iigar shortage. He said:— "It will be to the interest of the public to know that the authorities are attempting to stop us from obtaining our supplies from Java, by preventing the dispatch of cablegrams thither. On May 20 we received an offer of sugar, and on the samo date replied accepting so far as sugar available for July was concerned. We again cabled for a reply, hut have received no answer. We can only assume that it also has bcew held back." Life in the tranches is crowded with hardships and deadly peril, but -it has its consolations. A Liverpool territorial, who has been at the front for several months, finishes up his letter to young wife in these words:—"lt's just about as tough as it can be at limes; ' but, thank heaven, anyray, I shall miss [tho spring cleaning this scar."-