SUGAR INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1614, 4 December 1912, Page 7

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

COMMISSION REPORTS.

STRONG SUPPORT OF WHITE

LABOUR,

BOUNTY SYSTEM OPPOSED. By Telegraph—Preoa Association-Copyright (Rec. December 4, 0.5 a.m.) Melbourne, December 8. The Sugar Commission Report has been issued. It is signed by all the Commissioners, except Mr. Crawford, who has presented a minority report. The majority report is based on adherence to the White Australia policy, and the national importance from the standpoint of defence, of settling and cultivating tho tropical areas of Australia. The supreme justification for the protection of the sugar industry is tho part it plays in solving these problems. There is no reason why white labour should not be employed on the plantations and in the mills.

Tho net protection through the duty, excise, and bounty is generally estimated at iSS a ton, but the Commission estimates it at ss. a ton. This involves an annual subsidy of £1,000,000 from the community, and it tends to increase.

The growers aro dissatisfied with the return received by them for their outlay, the Commission explains, because the price of raw sugar is not determined by competition, but is fixed by the Colonial Sugar Company.

At present, under the terms to whitegrown sugar, ■91 per cent, of the labour is white, and to prevent a reversion to coloured labour the Commission prefers the direct prohibition of coloured workers. It recommends that the system of bounty and excise payments be abolished, and that with a view to securing this the Commonwealth negotiate with the States for the purpose of promoting the white labour policy, and the maintenance of a standard wage.

It is recommended that pending such abolition the bounty bo made equal to the excise, dating from July 1, 1912, owing to the special order in August raising wages; that the duty on raw or refined sugar fluctuate according to the price in foreign markets; that tlie duty be the amount of the difference between foreign market prices for sugar, Grade IA, and that'the standard price in Australia be not less than ,£2l 10s. a ton; that the duty be the .same on beet sugar 1 as on cane sugar; and that a duty be imposed on molasses of ,£1 10s. a ton.