SHORTAGE OF SUGAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1920, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF SUGAR.

RATIONING STILL IN FORCE. ANTI-HOARDING MEASURES. The icstrictions regulating the sale of sugar in New Zealand continue in force. Under the conditions imposed the average allowance to householders by retailera is from 21b to 41b per week, according to the size of families. The general rule observed by shopkeepers is that the disposal of sugar to customers must be accompanied by an order for other groceries, to ensure the bona-fides of the purchaser A bag of sugar cannot be supplied to any customers by the retail grocer. Instances are on record wliero orders placed in December for a 801b bag of sugar have not yet been filled. In these circumstances, no opportunity is afforded residents of the city and suburbs to build up reserves of sugar. The assertion is frequently heard that there is ample sugar for all requirements In the Dominion, and that the stringency is due to hoarding. The location of the supposed hidden supplies, however, is never stated, and difficulty is experitnced in formulating any idea as to whether such assertions are well grounded. The disclosures of hoarding sugar in Sydney have revived the popular impression that similar conditions would be found to exist in this Dominion, if a systematic search was made by inspectors, such as was carried out in New South Wales, where in one case one firm was found to have secreted G3 tons, in another instance three Greeks had 138 bags more than they admitted were in stock, and another small grocer had three tons hidden away in a house, which he was holding for a rise. Asked whether any similar search lirnl been made for hoards in Auckland, Mr. A- S. Houston, representative ol the Board of Trade in Auckland, de. dined to make any statement on the matter, though he intimated that steps had been taken to prevent hoarding of imgar. He explained that the New land Board of Trade Act did not provide for inspectors, as was the case in New South Wales.