SUGAR SHORTAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1919, Page 4

SUGAR SHORTAGE.

SUPPLY DUE TO-MORROW. THE ONEHUNGA TROUBLE. There is still a scarcity of sugar in New Plymouth.and throughout the whole of Taranaki. Owing to ffie trouble at Onehunga the Rirau did not bring any sugar yesterday, but it is expected that she will land a cargo here tomorrow. . ■' Improved supplies of sugar in the early future are promised throughout l the Dominion. The price of the article will remain as at present until the end of March, 1920, in accordance with the agreement arrived at some months uijo with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. _ Referring to the refusal of the waterside workers at Onehunga to load sugar for New Plymouth, the Auckland Herald says:—"A consignment of fifty tons of sugar, -which was intended for despatch to New Plymouth from Onehunga by the Northern Company's steamer Rimu, was not placed on board, the waterside workers refusing to handle it. The reason assigned for this action was the scarcity of sugar in Onehunga, some of the waterside workers having been unable to procure any sugar last week-end. The men's decision, which was arrived at at a stop-work meeting, was communicated by the secretary to the union to the acting-manager of' the Colonial Sugar Company. The latter stated that the shortage, -was due to a lack of shipping, but gave a verbal undertaking that a-supply of sugar would be sent to the Onehunga grocers at the earliest opportunity. The secretary communicated this promise to the members of the union, who, however, asked that a written guarantee should be given. This demand was refused. The company stated that it had no surplus stock but that it was refining sugar and distributing it as quicklv as possible"