The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-08-09
PRICE Of SUGAR !. !,
ABOUT. Determined
Food Administration Is Authority
For Assertion That There
Win Be Increase

3 Prices for the 1919 sugar crop nave
been practically determined is the In
formation that comes to Facts about
Sugar in its Washington correspond
ence under date of July II. AT the
same time the correspondent says that
the question of costs and prices, for
Hawaii and. Porto Rico have not yet
been gone into. 1t is probable, how
ever, that since that time the Hawaiian
Planters committee has had, a hearing.
= The Washington correspondent Of
Facts about Sugar wrote:
~ Beyond the meager intimation Civ
en- in its announcement on July ii con.
corning the formation of the. sugar
Capitalization board that higher price
for refined sugar was anticipated in
the latter part Of the year, nothing
further has been Forthcoming from this
source az 10 the price situation.
Price Practically Determined
Although not officially confirmed,
there is every warrant for the state.
Ihent that the probable price basis for
refined for 1919 has been very nearly
il not actually determined. That 1t
will be higher than the existing price
is assured, the food administration
itself being the authority. How much
higher it is perilous to forecast at this
time.
That the price will be established on
a basis higher than 100 cents seems
certain considering the increased costs
of production and manufacture, but to
what extent that figure will be exceed
ed no one here cares to predict.
No further conferences on the new
CROP price basis for Cuban sugars have
been held between the representatives
in attendance at last week s meeting.
Ostehsibly the conference has been ad-
journed to enable the Cubans to sub.
init brief outlining what the increase
m costs will be for the 19l8l9 season
as compared with 19171S. No doubt
the figures to be submitted will be of
value to the American representatives,
but on the other hand the opinion pre-
walls very generally that price agree
niisiit Ut ian increase has been tenta-
lively reached, subject possibly to
some slight revision later.
ANNOUNCEMENT Probable Soon
: With this knowledge as a basis it is
considered probable that the food ad-
ADMINISTRATION has already formulated its
IDEAS as to the level for the refined
basis that will have to follow a higher
basic price for next crop Cubas. When
the change win be made and the price
made public is a matter Of conjecture
at present, but it can be safely said
that the announcement will not be
very long delayed. " "",.'
: According to the latest information
obtainable here, there will be no CON
ference this year between the beet
sugar producers and the food admin
istration relative to a price agreement
for their new crop sugars. Originally
such a conference was to have been
had on Juno "a at Atlantic City, but it
was postponed without date at the re-
aaest of the food administration.
Need Is Removed
II Is Believed that the reason why no
conference will be held is the opinion
of tie food administration that it is
not now necessary in view OF the for
nation of the sugar equalization
board, as the matter of caring for the
beet sugar producers who cannot oper,
ate, probably under the new price to
be named will be handled by this board
and will not be a master to come be-
fore a, general conference.
One factor which is serving to delay
ths aGhodncemen6 relative TO the re,
fined price basis is, the failure of pro
ducers to send in promptly their cost
figures with suitable comparisons indi.
eating, increases, This condition is
most unsatisfactory to the food al.
ininistFiition, which even by persist
ence and the use of all available in
formative agencies has not as yet been
ALE 10 arrive at all the facts regard,
ing the cost Of producing beet sugar.
The producers are also dissatisfied, as
the delay retards determination Of the
matter and brings about doubts that
should not exist. A prominent food
admi nistration official is reported to
have said that If cost state.nents aio
speedily forwarded all uncertainty as
to the price situation can be quickly
No price questions affecting Ha
waiian and Porto Rican sugars have as
yet been taken up. The Philippine
situation has been given considerable
attention and the outlook for the pro,
ducers there as TO price is mitch
brighter now than it has been for some
time past.