THE SUGAR SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2476, 1 June 1915, Page 6

THE SUGAR SHORTAGE

STATEMENT BY FEDERAL ATTORNEYGENERAL

SUPPLIES ARRANGED

ATTACK ON THE COMPANY

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Mslbourne, May 31. The Attorney-General (Hon. W. M. Hughes) in a lengthy statement to tho Press covering tho sugar position states that arrangements have been inado with tho Colonial-Sugar Company to import sufficient to cover shortage, and it will be sold at £25 per ton. The import duty of £6 per ton 'has been superseded during the import period. Tho Commonwealth sugar shortage is estimated at 1(5,000 tons. Present stocks will be exhausted by the end of July. Tho first shipment of 13,000 tons 16 duo in tho middlo of July. Company Criticised. Summing up the position, Mr. Hughes declares that the Colonial Sugar Company lias secured control of the market and prevented all effective competition. It has made huge profits and built up great assets which are hidden from public scrutiny by means of ingenious mot-hods. It swallows tho lion's share of a great Australian industry, and has treated grower, distributor, and consumer with contemptuous indifference. The company knew of the impending shortage when no one else did or could have, but it neither took steps to meet it lior to disclose the information until the price had risen and opportunities for freight became still more restricted. Then, when-the' community, as it thought, was helpless, it spoke, assumed an air of great concern, and offered to come to the relief of the people provided it could be assured of its profits.

Had the public been notified, arrangements could have been made for, meeting the shortage on much more advantageous terms. Mr. Hughes alleged that six days before it notified Mr. Hobnail (Premier of Neiv South Wales) of a shortage, the company exported three thousand tons to Canada. Mr. Knox, of the Colonial Sugar Company, promises to reply to Mr. Hughes's statement.