SUGAR PRICES

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1920, Page 3

SUG AR PRICES

NEW ZEALAND’S BARGAIN

WELLINGTON, Aug 3.

According to Mr Wilford’s view of the Government’s sugar purchase, New Zealand, lias made a bad bargain, because tlie price was fixed, not according to the basic value of sugar cane, but with an eye upon tlie fabulous prices charged in other parts-of the world. He lmd recently visited Fiji, where lie found it took eight and n half tons of cane lo make a ton of raw sugar. The planter got 15s a ton for his cane, so that the raw material for a ton of sugar cost £(5 17s (id. How much did the Colonial Sugar Company pay for taw sugar in tlie last two mouths? Could anyone tell him that the cost of refining, freight and bagging? was £4O a toil, Mr Massey: What’s that got to do with it?

Mr Wilford: -Everything to do with it. You fix the price of sugar according to what other countries pay, but it is no use telling me that therefore we should pay it. A bargain was made by which New Zealand pledged itself to pn v £47 a ton. Mr Massey: T could get two millions

move for it.. Mr Wilfnrci retorted that the Premiey might talk about getting more but the people would not swallow that. The Hon W. Nosworthy, who made a Ministerial reply, said that about the time the sugar deal was made at £47 they were quoting sugar in Cuba at £9O per ton. Apparently Air Wilford wanted to force the position so as to leave the people of New Zealand entirely without sugar.