THE PRICE OF SUGAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 266, 2 April 1913, Page 5

THE PRICE OF SUGAR.

RECENT RISE EXPLAINED. DUE TO SUGAR COMPANY'S ACTION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christehurch. Last Night. It is understood that the increase in the price- of sugar announced locally from 2%d to 2Vail per lb is due to action by the Colon al Sugar' Refining I Company, as the result of the recent cases under the Commercial Trusts Act. 1 Without going into the legal aspects of the mattgr, an appeal has been lodged against tlSfe - judgment of the Supreme Court in unerases i+ferred to, and is to be heard 'Sn the' 14th inst. It appears that the company has notified its clients that the discount of 5 per cent, hitherto allowed t(f cover the cost of distribution and so forth, and representing about £1 per ton, is to be discontinued as from April 1. and that the price of sugar will be as listed. Although the company has not altered the price to the merchants, sugar is now costing the merchants approximately £1 per ton more than it did when the company gave the o per cent, discount. As to the reduction made locally about two months ago, it is claimed that it was not quite justified, as at 2,\4d per lb the margin of profit to the grocer was such ■ that sugar hardly paid for its handling 1 and was not bearing its proper proportion of the general expenses of the business.