PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
IC.O.
Reference :-
885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAM NOT TO
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schedule of prices showed the people that Government had abnormal powers to deal with abnormal conditions, and immediately exercised them when the crisis which required their exercise had arisen, and that the people were not going to be at the mercy of the retail dealer.
8. As was to be expected, certain shopkeepers, particularly in the country, attempted, and successfully in many cases, to sell at prices higher than those allowed, but immediate steps were taken to bring offenders to justice, and it may, it is thought, be claimed that as a whole the scheduled prices have been kept to through- out the Colony. The police were given orders to keep as strict observation as possible on shops and to take proceedings where contraventions of the Proclamation were observed. Up to the present proceedings have been taken in 29 cases and con- victions obtained in 27.
9. Complaints were early made by retail shopkeepers that, though they them- selves were restricted as to the prices they could charge, wholesale merchants were not affected, and that a few of the latter had so raised their prices in respect of the scheduled articles that the shopkeeper could make nothing out of the sale of them. Immediately upon this becoming known the Food Committee prepared, for the approval of the Governor, a notice warning wholesale merchants as to what would happen if they persisted in such a course of action. This notice was published on 18th August, 1914 (see Appendix IV.),* with excellent results, because complaints from retail shopkeepers at once ceased, and no action was necessary to deal with wholesale merchants.
Sugar.
10. The question of the exportation of sugar, which was also entrusted to the Food Committee, has been left to the last because it requires special and distinct
treatment.
11. The exportation of sugar was prohibited, except under permit, by Pro- clamation No. 45 of 1914 (see Appendix III);* and the price in England had jumped up to such a figure within the first few days of the war that applications for permits to export sugar amounting to 7,000 tons were made and granted between the 18th and 29th August, 1914.
12. It became at once apparent to the Food Committee that if exportation at The that rate went on much longer there would be a sugar famine in the Colony. Committee therefore made a strong recommendation to the Governor that all permits should be refused until the amount of sugar in the Colony had been approximately ascertained; and His Excellency at once gave effect to this recommendation.
13. The Committee immediately circularized all of the more prominent holders of sugar with a request for information as to the quantity of their existing stocks. The returns were not completely made till nearly the end of September, but it was then ascertained that, on a conservative estimate, there must be about 5,000 tons of sugar in the Colony. As the annual consumption of sugar in the Colony is about 8,000 to 9,000 tons, the return showed that it would be necessary to retain 3,000 out of the 5,000 tons for local consumption, but that permits to export might be granted in respect of the remaining 2,000 tons.
14. The retention of these 3,000 tons in the Colony undoubtedly caused a con- siderable loss of profit to the then holders of sugar. Under the schedule of prices to which reference has been made the retail price was first fixed at 4 cents per lb., or £18 138. 4d. per ton, while the price being paid in London at that time was £27 per ton.
But there was no practical alternative unless Government allowed the inhabitants of the Colony to be exploited in the interests of sugar holders, and the Committee did all it could to minimize the loss by allocating permits as much as possible in proportion to the amount of sugar held by each applicant for leave to export. It may be mentioned that on 19th March, 1915, the price of all locally manufactured sugar was fixed at 5 cents per lb., except white crystals, the price of which was made o cents per lb. (see Appendix II. (g) ).*
15. All holders of sugar who had exported all or the greater part of their stock previously to the end of August, 1914, escaped from this liability to contribute to the maintenance of the stock of sugar for local consumption, and the Committee
*Not reprinted.
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early decided that steps should be taken before the 1915 crop began to be reaped to ensure that the liability should be imposed on all sugar producers in the Colony in proportion to their production.
16. The estimated sugar crop of the Colony for 1915 consists approximately of
Yellow crystals
30,400 tons 5,800 11 23,800
Molasses sugar Grey crystals
Grey crystals have in past years always been exported, the local market only taking yellow crystals and molasses sugar. But the Committee were of opinion that, though the local consumer had in the past not bought grey crystals for domestic use, this last-mentioned kind of sugar was perfectly wholesome, though less pleasing in appearance than the other kinds; that the present was a time when mere niceties of taste could not be regarded; and that the duty of the Committee should be confined to keeping a stock of sugar in the Colony.
17. In order to arrive at the desired result by arrangement as much as possible, the Food Committee called a meeting on 10th February, 1915, at which representa- tives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Agricultural Society, and the Board of Agriculture attended, when the proposals of the Food Committee were submitted for the consideration of the meeting. The result of this meeting and the decision arrived at will become apparent on a perusal of the letter of 4th March, 1915 (see Appendix V.).
18. Since the commencement of the 1915 crop all manufacturers of sugar have known that they could have permits for exportation up to 75 per cent. of their total estimated production; and permits covering nearly 35,000 tons have been issued, while about 19,400 tons have been actually exported, showing that the present system has not in any way hampered trade, while ensuring the retention of sugar for local consumption.
19. It is hoped to obtain within the next few days a further return, which will enable the 75 per cent. to be increased to at least 80 per cent., and perhaps, owing to the sale locally by particular manufacturers of yellow crystals and molasses sugar of an amount in excess of their prescribed contribution to the local stock, to release In the opinion of the for exportation a corresponding amount of grey crystals. Food Committee it would not be safe, owing to the weather outlook, to permit the export of more than 80 per cent. of the estimated production for 1915 for the present; when the total amount of the crop has been ascertained it may be possible to increase this figure.
H. C. GOLLAN, Chairman of Food Committee.
The Honourable
SIR,
The Colonial Secretary.
APPENDIX V.
Attorney-General's Chambers, Port of Spain, 4th March, 1915. Ar a meeting held at the Red House on 10th February, at which representa- tives of the Board of Agriculture, the Agricultural Society, and the Chamber of Commerce attended, I laid before the meeting the proposals of the Food Committee for ensuring the maintenance of a sufficient supply of sugar for local needs during the present year.
2.
Put shortly, the proposals of the Committee were as follows:-
(a) That, in order to ensure the retention of enough sugar in the island for local needs, exportation should only be allowed under permit; and
(b) That the liability to retain a definite proportion, say 20 per cent. of their output, should be placed on each factory, irrespective of the quality or grade of sugar produced.
As a result of common agreement, it was decided that 8,000 tons of sugar were required locally, and that this would amount to 15 per cent. of the total estimated output.
3. Strong exception was taken to any restrictions on exportation, on the ground that they were an undue interference with trade and that all that was required to ensure a supply of sugar for local needs was to fix a price that would compare