SUGAR PRODUCTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 215, 11 August 1937, Page 6

SUGAR PRODUCTION

INQUIRY INTO COST. AT PRESENT UNDER WAY. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Aug. 10. A departmental investigation into the costs of the production of sugar to determine whether prices are reasonable is at present being undertaken, according to advice received by the Auckland executive of the Farmers Union from the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan)

The Minister’s statement was m reply to a complaint by the union .of seasonal increases in the price of sugar immediately preceding the jam-making and fruit-preserving period. Information was sought as to whether preventive action could be taken under any existing legislation.

The Minister explained that a preliminary report had been furnished to him showing the prices ruling during the past five years, together with rates for raw suga.r during that period, flic wholesale price of sugar in New Zealand and the raw price showed remarkable correspondence, and he was informed that it was the policy of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Limited, to vary wholesale rates in ac-

' cordance with the price of the raw prodU “So far there has been no indication Tt n - w ®j th a seasonal increase in coincides vjtn a l>llti a s I have the pnte o ‘ investigation is being stated, a Ml itio „ will be thoroughly examined from every point of view.” • .