THE SUGAR COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 141, 1 November 1912, Page 5

THE SUGAR COMPANY.

A PROFITABLE YEAR. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Received 31, 10.50 p.m. Sydney, October 31. At the half-yearly meeting of the Colonial Sugar Company the net profits were stated at: Australia £119,628, New Zealand and Fiji £IIO,OOO, to which a balance of £101,544 had to be added, making the total available £391,174. A dividend and bonus at the rate of 12% per cent, per annum has been dedared, absorbing £187,500, leaving .£204,674 to be carried forward. The chairman stated that, owing to the shortness of the rainfall in Australia and Fiji, the crops were now cutting much below the average. It was impossible to forecast the course of the European market for the next few months. - The immediate future was uncertain. Next year's crop should be a good one if the rain came soon. The company's affairs were normal, but the same could not be said of the labor position. If the Minister of Custom's recent edict carried effect, it was expected that the contraction of the sugar area in Queensland would result in an appeal to the Colonial Office, and a better understanding should be reached. As regards Fiji, the position had improved. Ee considered comment on the Sugar Commission undesirable, as proceedings were still pending. The costs in connection therewith were considerable, but they had been written off.