THE SUGAR SHORTAGE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 111, 12 May 1916, Page 4

THE SUGAR SHORTAGE.

In the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, it was made apparent that the time of the Legislature is again to be taken up in the interests of the people in combating the efforts of the Colonial Sugar Company to again unduly inflate sugar prices. What it costs the country for Parliament to deal with extortioners is truly appalling, and it is hoped that action will now b e taken that will deter, not only the Sugar Company, but all other would-be exploiters of the people from continuing their nefarious operations. Mr. C. H. Poole lias given notice of his intention to ask the Minister for Industries and Commerce "whether his attention has been called to the serious shortage of sugar supplies .seeing that exportations are taking place and reports have it that the refinery is well stocked just now; and, if so, whether he will state what new demands are to be made upon the purse of a longsuffering people when the present arrangements expire next month." Mr Poole states: "The company reports huge profits for the past year, and as the tariff revision of 1907, calculated to give the consumer Id per lb relief, resulted in a gift of something like £1,500,000 up to date, there is no hardship in demanding that prices remain as they are."