THE SUGAR SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 94, 14 January 1921, Page 6

THE SUGAR SHORTAGE

FRUIT-GROWERS ANXIOUS DEPUTATION TO MINISTER A request that if possible more sugar should be made available for jam-making this season was yesterday placed before the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. E. I’. Lee) by a depuw tation representing the New Zealand. Fruitgrowers' Federation. Mr. J. AV. Collins (Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce) was present while the deputation held its interview with the Minister.

Mr. J. Longton, president, said that evidence had been placed before the federation that people were unable to obtain supplies of sugar for jam-making. They quite recognised that the Board of Trade had done a great deal in the matter of securing supplies and fair distri-’ bution of sugar; but owing to the hoarding by individuals there were not the extra supplies which were needed at this time for preserving' the fruit crop. Mr. A. N. Robertson (Hawke’s Bay) said that he himself had 27 acres of orchard, and there were ten persons in his houselwld, but he was unable to obtain more than 21lb. of sugar a week, so that it was impo-ssible to make jam. The Minister asked if the deputation desired that the fruitgrowers should receive supplies over and ahnve those granted to the general public. Mr. Longton said that they had asked, that, but the Board of Trade had. said that it would not do to take the distribution out of the ordinary channels. While the federation was prepared to take the additional supplies and distribute them for jam-making, it was not anxious to undertake the work. Demand Greater Than Supply. The Minister: I suppose you recognise that the demand is beyond the supply. That necessitates a shortage somewhere. What is the burden of your complaint—that the distribution is not fair? Mr. Longton said that they were told that there were normal supplies, and that implied that someone was getting more than should be given. The Minister snid he did not think that there was hoarding to any appreciable extent. He had already given attention to the matter of securing additional supplies, and was hopeful that something would be done quickly in that direction. Apart from additional supplies, anything extra for the fruitgrowers would have 10 be given at the expense of the general consumer. The present distribution, he believed, was as equitable as it could be made. It was impossible to obtain an absolutely fair allocation. They could not prevent occasional bags being given by grocers and merchants, though it was stopped whenever they knew of it. They had been trying to build up stocks for the jam season. AVhile they were putting out raw sugar it was with the object of saving the refined for jam. Had it not been for interruptions in the factory they would now "have been in a fairly satisfactory position. He had seen statements made repeatedly at the fruitgrowers’ meetings regarding the supplies to brewers. At one recent meeting it had been said: "The brewers can. always get sugar.” Mr. Attwood: And the lollie-makers. What the Brewers Get.

The Minister said that the original supply to brewers was 1500 tons a year. They were now receiving l 975 tons, including 350 tons of "invert” sugar, whicn was no use for anything but brewing. That meant that their supplies were 625 tons a year, or about 50 tons a month. He had not many "tickets” on the brewers; but could he shut up a whole industry for the sake of saving 50 tons a month. To give special supplies to the fruitgrowers would also mean cutting down the amount allotted for the households, which were not receiving sufficient. He would go into- the matter with the Board of Trade and see if it was in any way possible to make an extra allocation from stocks, which he did not think were extensive. As he had stated, he had already given attention to the matter of obtaining additional supplies and hoped to do something. He would do his best, but the fruitgrowers must realise the difficulties. Mr. Longton said thej- quite realised the Minister’s difficulties, and believed that he was doing the best he could. The Minister said that one source of trouble was that the people woud not realise the position and assist by economising. New Zealand’s consumption of su-mr per head in 1917-18. the last year for which comparative figures were available, was 133.481 b. The next highest consumption per head was in America, with 801 b.