ICE CREAM TRADE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 98, 20 January 1943, Page 3

ICE CREAM TRADE

Request For More Sugar

The serious position of the ice cream industry as a result of the reduction in sugar supplies was brought to tlie notice of the Minister of Supply. Mr. Sullivan, by a deputation of representatives of the. industry. The spokesmen for the deputation stated that it would require only 260 tons of sugar to enable the industry to produce sufficient ice ere.-im to enable 6000 odd small shopkeepers I<j carry on. These shopkeepers depended on ice cream to supplement their small return from the distribution of staple commodities such ns bread, milk, and butter. , . L .. • The deputation stated that the ice cream industry was not officially classed HH essential, though it. principally supplied milk bars, restaurants and hotels, which were classed as essential. It also stated that the manpower position concerning it and the allied trade (cone manufacture) wits most difficult, but both ice cream manufacturers and cone manufacturers were attempting to carrv on by working long hours and employing a class not physically capable ot other national service. Problems of Shipping.

The Minister said he fully appreciated the value of the industry, and the difficulties confronting it, and wished he had sufficient supplies to grant the icquest, but he was- being pressed from all <f tions for increased supply, lhe house wife wanted more sugar for jam mi iking, and he could not increase the nition of one without the other. lhe Minister said the difficulty-was principal J shipping, and till shipping-was available from present urgent war requirements mcould see no way out of the difficulty, though every step was- being taken to overcome this problem. He counselled that manufacturers should carry on as best they could meantime, for the Government would grant relief immediately the position improved. . . . The matter of restriction ot reingeiant “gases was raised, and. an earnest plea for immediate relaxation made. Iwas pointed out that at present it is impossible to maintain and service refrigerators in the retail shops, and this was an acute hardship to the small ie tailer and manufacturer alike The Minister said be would have tins matter looked into with the object of immediate relief.