§ Mr. REMERasked the Minister of Food whether white sugar can be bought at £145 per ton landed duty paid; and, if so, why the Government are charging £160 per ton for the same shipment?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe hon. Member does not state at what date the sugar referred to in the first part of the question can be delivered. If he will supply me with further details I shall be glad to inquire into the matter and to furnish him with a detailed reply.
§ Mr. RAMSDENasked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the fact that last year thousands of tons of sugar left Natal in Japanese boats for Buenos Ayres at the price of 2d. per lb. and that the price of sugar in Natal 425W to-day is about 3¼d. per lb.; whether he has noticed that consignments of sugar are being shipped from Buenos Ayres to this country at inflated prices; and what steps does he intend to take in the future to regulate the supply and demand of sugar from our colonies direct to this country so that it can be purchased at a reasonable price?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI am not aware that thousands of tons of sugar left Natal last year for Buenos Ayres at 2d. per lb., but I am informed that the wholesale price fixed for sugar produced in Natal is approximately as stated. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative; the last part does not, therefore, arise.