THE DISTRIBUTION OF SUGAR.
[To THE EDITOR OT THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Mr. Livingstone Holmes in his letter in the Spectator of the 10th inst. complains of traders selling sugar on the pro rata basis, and describes it as a system of blackmail. This charge is most unjust. Grocers are discharging a very difficult and unpleasant duty in having to limit their customers' purchases of sugar. It is quite impossible for them to institute inquiries as to the number of persons in each customer's house, but they have a rough-and-ready indication of the need of sugar in the amount of other goods purchased, and there is very little objection to the present system, now that the public understand that there is at present available for grocery purposes only half the quantity that was distributed in 1915. The present limited supply gives just about the same amount of sugar per head of the population as was consumed per head fifty years ago, when there was no limita- tion in force. Mr. Livingstone Holmes suggests that the Govern- ment should open retail sugar depots. That would entail a scandalous waste of money and labour, and would not increase the quantity of sugar by a single pound. I think the value of sugar as food has been greatly exaggerated. The present writer gave up the use of sugar in tea, coffee, and cocoa twenty-five years ago, and found other foods digested more readily when sugar was not taken in these beverages, and many are known to have had the same experience. Economy iu the use of sugar will be more helpful at present than grumbling at the method of distribution.
—I am, Sir, de., Amos Ilneron. 10 to 11 South Street, Middlesbrough.
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