AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 211, 19 May 1915, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

! FIXING SUGAR PRICES. (Reed. 9.30 p.m.), SYDNEY* May 17. At a conference of the Queensland, Victorian and South Australiaan Commodities Boards, held with the object of fixing ;the price of sugar, Mr Knox, genial manager of the Colonial Sugar Company,gave evidence that the stocks in Sydney and Melbourne would be exhausted by the end of July. Brisbane's supply would cease at an earlier date, and Adelaide's later. The estimated shortage was 75,000 tons. The company believed it would be necessary to import 75,000 to 125,000 tons to carry on until July, 1916. Mr Knox maintained that the Commission had no power to fix the price. . Judge Edmunds asked Mr Knox if he objected to the Commission enquiring the company's profits in past yea(rs. Mr Knox thought it quite futile and unnecessary. The conference agreed that the needs to the end of August could only b ( e supplied by importation, which ought to be supplied in a reasonable profit to those concerned. It admitted th,e business should be protected, and would endeavour to fix the price> PRICE NOT TO BE ALTERED. (Reed. 1.40 a,m.) The Conference decided not to alter, the riric e of sugar.