THE SUGAR COMMISSION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 84, 4 December 1912, Page 3

THE SUGAR COMMISSION.

'By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) Melbourne, December 3. The Sugar Commission report has been signed by all except Mr Crawford, who presented a minority report. The majority based its adherence on a white Australia policy, and the national importance, from the standpoint of defence, of settling and cultivating tropical areas. The supreme justification for the protection of the sugar industry is the 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. The net protection through duty, excise and bounty, is generally £5 per ton, and the Commission estimates it at £5 5s per ton. This involves an annual subsidy of £1,0Q0,000 from the community, and tends to increase. The growers are dissatisfied with the return received for their outlay. The Commission explains that this is because the price of raw sugar is not determined by competition but fixed by the Colonial Sugar Company. Ninety-four per cent, of the labour is white. To prevent a reversion to coloured labour, the Commission prefers the direct prohibition of coloured men. It recommends that the system of bounty and excise be abolished, and that in view of securing this the Commonwealth shouhj negotiate with the States for the purpose of promoting a white labour policy and the maintenance of \ a standard wage; that pending such abolition the bounty be made equal to the excise, dating from July 1, 1912. Further, that owing to the special order of August, rising wages, that the duty on raw or refined sugar fluctuate according to foreign markets that the duty be the amount of the difference between foreign prices and that of sugar grade la, and that the standard price of Australian be not less than £2l 10s per ton; that the duty be the same on beet as on cane sugar ; that the duty imposed on molasses be £1 10s a ton.

(Received 8.0 a.m.) Melbourne, December 3. The figures regarding the supplies to the company show that the business produces high profits. The Commission opposed the nationalisation of the sugar industry and the Commonwealth competing with existing concerns with a view to keeping down the price of refined sugar, while raising the price of raw. It recommends an amendment of the constitution to enable the Commonwealth to control the prices of raw sugar and sugar cane: that thereupon the price of raw sugar be fixed on a sliding scale by an interstate commission ; that the price of cane sugar be fixed by a Board for each, with a minimum wage of eight shillings for an eight hours’ day and bettor conditions for workers. The Commission recommended also the retention of the rebate on the sugar duty on exported and manufactured produce, and a special excise duty of £2 10s per ton on beet sugar when the production exceeds 10,000 tons.