THE PRICE OF SUGAR. DISCUSSION BY THE GROCERS' ASSOCIATION. Auckland, June 4.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 375, 8 June 1889, Page 3

THE PRICE OF SUGAR. DISCUSSION BY THE GROCERS' ASSOCIATION. Auckland, June 4.

EviiEYjJODY is inleiestcd in tho price of s ugar, and consequently a discussion which book place on this subject at a special meet'ng of grocers held at Robson't Rooms las^ e\ ening should be read with interest. The meeting was convened by the Giocers' Association, and grocers who were nob members had been invited to attend, with the object/ of ensuring some ananimity in the adoption of o standard of prices. There were about forty grocers present, and Mr F. Whitohoad occupied the chair. Mr Oibbons moved, " Thai in the opinion of this meeting there should be an advanco of {d per 1b on present retail price." Mr Scott desired to hoar some further discussion befoio any resolution was submitted. He thought that the prices 3d per lb for No. 3, 3W per lb ior Ko. 2, and 4d per lb for No. ], might be adopted, but ho questioned whether this step was advisable, because it was not likely that sugar would keep the present high wholesale prices for long. He thought that tho giocers should also bear in mind that they had to compete with the Civil Service Supply Association. Mr Scott said that sugar lormed onefifth of the grocers' sales, and it they weio to sell sugar below cost, and the rest of their goods at cose price, he would like to know whcio the piofit was to come in. Mr F. Howe urged that the Civil Service Supply A«sdqiabion should be left out of the disco ssion. The Chairman, speaking to the resolution, said that the Sugar Bounties Convention had no doubt caused the rise in wholesale prices. Mr French proposed, and Mr Suhischka seconded, "That it is advisable to laiso the retail price of sugar," and this was carried unanimously. Mr Schischka moved : " That the retail cash prices for sugar be — No. 1, Z x ,d ; No. 2, 3Jd ; No. 3, 3d!" Mr Scott seconded the motion. Mr Bntrican moved as an amend men 1 -, and Mr Young seconded, "That the retail cash prices be : No. 1 , 3kl ; No. 2, 3d ; No. 3, 3d." Mr Howin supported the resolution. He thought these should be adopted as tho cash prices, and that credit prices should be left to the discretion of the grocers themselves. Mr Scott said that he did not caro what this meeting decided, ho would sell sugar ut 3d per lb. Mr Doonin regrettod to hear such remarks, for it was dissentions of this kind that had made tho grocers so unprosperous hitherto. As a matter of fact,' not a grocer in Auckland was paying expenses at tho present time, and it seemed that their fate was to work hard all their lives to interview the Official As&igneo in the end. He urged unanimity, ' At the presont time all tho grocers' profits 1 were too low. Sugar had now risen on four successive occasions, and to keep it at ordinary rates was madness. H<3 suggested that the growers should supply 41b of sugar and upwards at 3.{d for No. 1, and 3^d for No. 2. For the present the resolution would do, with the proviso he had made for sales of 41b and upwards. In conclusion, Mr Doonin explained that 1 his roason for nob having joined tho Grocers'

Association .was that there was no unanimifcy amongst them, and because they could not be relied on individually to carry out their own decisions. Mr Enbiican said that No. 2 sugar now cost £28 10s per lon, 'and if this were sold at 3#d per lb, it would fall rather heavily upon a certain class who could not buy from the Sugar Company and had to pay the 'merchant £1 per ton extra. That gave a very small margin of profit, nnd to make matters worse he never found a bag of sugar that weighed out full quantity. The Chairman said he did not approve of the introduction of a farthing. Mr Home said that his experience was that the sales of sugar formed about onebhird of the "turnover" in the grocers' business. Mr Gallagher supported the amendment. Mr Schischka said that so sure as grocers fitlemptcd bo sell sugar at 3id, so sure would others sell at 3jd. He would like to get 3-^d himself, bub in the face of existing competition he thought they should be satisfied with 3Jd. Tho Chairman said that it was quite time that tho grocer*, gave the public to understand that it was the duly of tho tea shops in Auckland to sell sugar. Mr Doonin defended the Civil Service Supply Association, which was not represented, and mentioned an instance in which their manager had honestly adhered to an arrangemontmade re an advance in sugar. Mr Scott said that if a unanimous decision were armed at he would be bound by it, but he would not consent to sell sugar at 3£d until every grocer had signed a paper binding himsolt to do the same. The Chairman said he would prefer to sell both No. 3 and No. 2 at 3£d, the latter being subject to a reduction ot price for large quantities. Fie objected to the introduction of farthings. Both the moveia of the resolution and amendment agreed to adopt a proviso that there should be one price for No. 2 and No. 3, and a reduction on No. 2 for 61b and up wares, thus bringing about an agreement. Tho resolution was put in this form : " That No. 3 sugar shall be quoted at 3d per lb, No. 2 and No. 1 at 3i"d, while No 2 will carry a reduction of %d per lb on six lb and upwards." It was carried with two dissentients. The Chairman spoke on the duty of every man bo pay his debts, and urged the necessity for better legislation in the matter of bankruptcy. The hat was then sent lound for conliibutions towards expenses, after which pioceodings took a private and conversational turn.