THE SUGAR SHORTAGE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 114, 16 May 1916, Page 4

THE SUGAR SHORTAGE.

With reference to the sugar shortage experienced in Tailiape, an impression seems to have got round that storekeepers are storing up sugar in anticipation of a rise. A representative of this paper has been invited by the largest of the traders to satisfy himself that this is far from the truth. As a matter of fact, anyone who peruses the papers could not fail to notice the shortage of the sugar supply is being complained about all over the country, and the Prime Minister is being worried about it in Parliament. There is no such thing now-a-days as sugar being supplied by the Sugar Monopoly Co. according to orders, and each trader is allotted a share according to the judgment of officers of the Company in Auckland. It is, however, true that the demand for sugar throughout the country is not only in excess of its normal requirements, but is also, in fact, in excess of the quantity of sugar reserved for New Zealand altogether. Those householders who have thus bought in stores of sugar will no doubt be disappointed to find that after all, the price of sugar is not to be raised after June 30th, when the present arrangement with the Government expires. The Prime Minister announced in the House a day or two ago that no rise in sugar will take place this year. Nevertheless it seems a most j extraordinary thing that the people | of this country should be subjected to the merciless lash of a domineer- | ing monopoly, and we believe further j anti-trust measures should be brought | in to prevent a repetition of traffic in j th e people’s sugar. i