The Sugar Industry.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7713, 16 January 1905, Page 3

The Sugar Industry.

Taxation Hot Beduced. (Received Jan. 13, 5.15 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 14. Mr Austen Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, replying to a deputation) representing' the sugar usingi trades, declined to discontinue or modify a tax producing a revenue of six millions. Instead of describing- the sugar tax as the only tax on the raw material the •deputation, he said, should have described it as one of several taxes. Food such as tea and other articles had been taxed under the present system for itioiy years. The raw sugar tax was 30 per cent, and the raw tobacco tax 600 per cent, on their value. The ! deputation practically admitted that the development of industries was dependent on artificial cheapness, and the Sugar Bounties Convention had tended to restore the natural course of the trade. The deputation was not entitled to expect the maintenance of artilicial conditions ini favour of any particular industry, and refusing protection to any other, and it was, further, not entitled to ask for sugar below the cost of production. Sugared articles imported paid the same duties themselves. The true remedy was to obtain fresh sources of supply. Imports of cane had largely increased, and he predicted a still greater increase.