SUGAR COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 170, 5 December 1912, Page 5

SUGAR COMMISSION.

PROPOSALS FOR REGULATION. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Melbourne, December 4. Figures supplied by 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 the view of keeping down the price of refined sugar. The Commission recommends an amendment to the constitution to enable the Commonwealth to control the prices of raw sugar and sugar cane, and that thereupon the price of raw sugar be fixed on a sliding scale by an Interstate Commission. The price of can sugar would be fixed by the board for each mill. The minimum wage would be eight shillings for the eight hours' day. Better conditions for workers were recommended, also the retention of the rebate on the sugar duty on exported manufactured produced, and a special excise duty of £2 per ton on beet sugar, when the production exceeds ten thousand tons.

THE MINORITY REPORT. Received 4. 10.5 p.m. Melbourne. December 4. The minority report of the Sugar Commission strongly defends the Colonial Sugar Company. It urges that the beet sugar industry in Victoria should be encouraged as far as possible. It is unlikely that the requirements of Australia would be met by the production of cane sugar in New South Wales and Queensland for several years to come. The conclusions include the following: Excise and bounty in conjunction with other measures fulfilled their purpose; the profits of the mill-owners and refiners, while suflicieiit. are not excessive to the consumer, the primary producer serving better under existing conditions than lie would under ;i system of small independent refineries; fanners do not receive an adequate return for their labor and enterprise. The recommendations include the abolition of the excise and bounty, prohibition of colored labor, an increase of the import duty on sugar to £7 a ton, but if the excise and bounty are retained the increase on the import duty to he £9; wages and conditions of labor shotild be regulated by local hoards.