A SUGAR SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 36, 6 November 1919, Page 8

A SUGAR SHORTAGE

GOVERNMENT TAKING ACTION

THAT LOST CARGO

"From communications I have received it is autto evident to me that we are faco to face willi a sugar shortage in NewZealand." saw Mr. Mnssey in tho House yesterday. He said that the position had been made much more, acute than it. otheiwiso would have been by a ship with 5000 tons of sugar on board having been sent away from Auckland to Australia because the waterside workers at Auckland would not unload the cargo. The Board of Trade had nskeo that a representative of the Colonial Sugar Company in Australia should come across to New Zealand to discuss the position with tho Government. If this interview took place, he had no doubt that a satisfactory arrangement, would be made, for ij'i other years the representatives of the Sugar Company had been most reasonable in Meeting the needs of this country. If a representative' of the company could nor come across from Australia, an ollicer of the. Government would bo sent to Australia, to explain that in Ne.v Zealand we hatf not adeciuate supplies of sugar, and to point out to liim the serious consequences of leaving this country without sugar in the coming fruit season.. ' Mr.'R. AV. Smith: Why was the ship sent back?

Because the waterside workers in Auckland refused to discharge the cargo. Mr. Smith: What was the amount, of the carco? Mr. Massov: I have just been informed that the amount was '1500 tons. Mr. Young suggested that, in view of the fact that there was an undoubted shortage, «oiue effort should be made to have available supplies distributed fairly throughout the Dominion. ' Mr. Massev said that he hoped that nothing in tho way of individual ration- ■ imr «f .-u«nr would be necessary in this country. He had had experience of thai, in Britain, and he would be sorry to see anything of the kind introduced into this country. Arrangements for wholesale distribution among the various centres according to their needs should be easily arranged" by the Board of Trade.