THE FARTHING RISE.

Shannon News, 6 April 1923, Page 4

THE FARTHING RISE.

• _ ♦— —— IN PRICE OF SUGAR. FIJIAN SUPPLIES FAIL. In consequence of the increase of a farthing per pound on the. price of sugar, Mr. W- F. Massey, in the capacity of Minister of Industries, made a statement on Tuesday, which was not telegraphed. He stated that the increase \yas due to the failure of the Fijian crop and to the abnormally heavy demand on suppUes at the Chelsea works during the jam season. During the past three months, just under 5000 tons over and above the quantity for a similar period last year had been distributed for consumption. The public had taken full advantage of the Government’s arrangements for an abundant supply of cheap sugar for jam-making purposes, , and this was evidenced by the fact that the deliveries for the jam season constituted a record for the past twelve years, and although earlier statistics were no,t available, Mr. Massey believed £he onantity delivered since December last had never been ex-' e«\ ded in the history of the Dominion. At the commencement of the vim season, the Government had 5508 ions of refined sugar in stock at Cheisea. That quantity has all gone into consumption, and, but for the fact that the weekly “ melt ” had been increased by 200 tons per week, serious inconvenience to householders would have resulted. The Government had made every effort to ensure that alb requirements were fully supplied. and only during the past month had it been necessary to place any restr'etion on orders from merchants. SUPPLIES FROM JAVA.

“ For some time,” continued Mr. Massey, “ the Government has been able, by. th,e arrangements made, to supply the best refined sugar at a cheap rate, but the recent conditions in Fiji, , coupled with shipping troubles, and merchants replenishing their stocks, have been-the cause of a partial breakdown in those arrangements, and the Government has had to supplement :the short Fijian supplies by importing sugar from Java. It will be necessary to put this sugar through,a further .refining process at Chelsea, as manufacturers particularly have found Java ‘.mill whites ’ to be unsuited to their requirements, and it is the desire of the Government, in placing - this sugar on the market, that it shall be of the same degree ot purity as Colonial lA.”

“ When the Government decided to purchase Java sugar, the prices were considerably lower than those ruling at present, and accordingly it will only be necessary to increase the present price by Jd. per lb., although, on the bas's of Javan prices current to-day, an increase of Id. per lb. would be warranted. The New Zea’and consumer still has the advantage in the matter of cheap sugar, as the retail price in, Great Britain is Bd. and in Australia sd. per lb., as compared with the new price in New Zealand, to be operative as from yesterday, of 4d. per lb.” Mr. Massey added that he could assure the public that the arrangements now made by the Government would enable adequate supplies of sugar to be available until the new season’s crop from Fiji was ready, so that there was no fear of a shortage.