USE OF SUGAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 February 1943, Page 2

USE OF SUGAR

FOR BREWING PURPOSES. RESTRICTION URGED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 26. The Minister of Customs, Mr Nordmeyer, was criticised at the Methodist Conference by the Rev Raymond Dudley for figures Mr Nordmeyer recently gave regarding the saving of sugar by rationing and the reduction of the alcoholic strength of beer. “I deplore some of the subtle misleading statements we have been receiving from Ministers of the Crown,” he said. Mr Nordmeyer, he went on, had said the sugar used by the breweries from May to December last had decreased by 62 per cent, compared with the previous period, and that consumption for brewing represented slightly more than 1 per dent of the Dominion total for all purposes. In spite of Mr Nordmeyer’s statement, declared Mr Dudley, the figures over the whole twelve months did not substantiate his calculations. The conference approved the following statement: “Conference appreciates the restrictions on the use of sugar fox' brewing, but the staggering fact remains that sugar consumption for the manufacture of alcoholic liquoi’ in the Dominion increased from 25,000 cwt. in 1935 to more than 51,000 cwt. in 1941-42.. In view of the severe curtailment suffered by many industries and the public, and in view of the grave possibilities facing the nation, conference feels that sugar, grain, and othei’ essential commodities should be consumed and' used toward the maintenance of the life and health of the people.” REPLY BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.)WELLINGTON, This Day. Commenting on the Conference criticism, the acting-Ministex- of Customs, Mr Nordmeyer, said yesterday that the figures given for the May-December’ period were chosen because it was in May last that the restrictions began to operate. This period, said the Minister, was faithfully compared with the corresponding figures for the previous year, the only possible basis of comparison. The figures given were carefully compiled and the percentages correctly calculated. “Mr Dudley’s suggestion that my figures are false or misleading is worthy only of contempt,” the Minister concluded.