SUGAR PRICES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 175, 11 August 1937, Page 7

SUGAR PRICES

— Press AS80clttllon.)

Opportunist Advances Alleged by Farmers MINISTER'S REPLY

(By Telegrapb

AUCKLAND, Last Night. A departmental investigation into thc costs of the production of sUgar to determine whether the prices are reasonable is at present boing undertalccn, according to advice fficeived by the Auckland Execntive of th'e Farmers' Union from Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Ihdustries and Commerce. The Minister's statement was in l-eply to a complaint by the union of seasonal inereases in the price of Ougar immediately preeeding the jam-making and fruit-preserving period. Information was sought as to {rhether preventive action could be taken under any cxisting legislation. The Minister oxplained that a preliminary report had been furnishcd to him showing the prices ruling durihg the past iive years, together with the rates for raw sugar during that period. Tho wholesale price of sugar in Nmv Zealand and the raw price showed a remarkable correBpondence, and he was informed that it was the policy of the ' Colonial SUgar Refining Company, Limited, to vary the wholesale rates in accordance with the price for the raw product. "So far there has been no indication that immediately prior to the jammaking and fruit -preserving season any increase was deliberately made in the wholesale price," Mr. Sullivan added. "It may be, however, that this period coinqides with the seasonal increase in tho price Qf raw sugar, but, as I have statejl, a full investigation is being made and the whole positiott will be thoroughly examined from every point of view."