THE SUGAR SHORTAGE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 26, 31 May 1915, Page 6

THE SUGAR SHORTAGE.

MR HUGHES’ SCATHING INDICTMENT. United Pees* Association. (Received 9.15 a.m.) Melbourne, May 31.

Mr Hughes, in a.lengthy statement to the press covering the sugar position, states that arrangements have been made -with the Colonial Sugai Company to import sufficient to cover tiie shortage, to be sold at £25 pei ton. 'The import duty of six pounds per ton has been suspended during the import period. Summing up the position, lie declares the Colonial Sugar Company has secured control ol the market and prevented all effective .competition. It made huge profits and brought up great assets which were hidden from the public scrutiny by means of ingenious methods to swallow the lion’s share of a great Australian industry. The Company treated the grower, distributor and consumer >vith conteniptiioVis indifference. ’ It knew of the impending shortdge but none els&’did diior' cdhltl have Iknown. Nei-ther-'did'the Company take steps to meet it or disclose, the information until the price had risen and the opportunities for freight became still more restricted. Then, when the com niunity was, as it thought, helpless, it spoke and assumed aff air of groat eoncorn and offered to come to the relief of the/people provided it could he assured of,its profits. Had the public lieon notified arrangements could have been made for meeting the shortage on much more advantageous terms. He alleges that six days before the Company notified Mr Holman of a shortagi the Company exported three thousand tons of sugar to Canada.

Mr Knox promises to reply to Mi Hughes’ statement.