SUGAR COMMISSION.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14580, 5 December 1912, Page 7

SUGAR COMMISSION.

THE FIGURES SUPPLIED.

Foiled Pr„« Asaociation-By Electric ie-e^aph— CoajrighV T . MELBOURNE. December 3. jne bugar Commission's report (part of whi.h was published yesterday) goes on to say:-T_o figure's supplied by tho Company show that tho business produces high profits. Tho Commission is opposed to the nationalisation of the susar industry and to the Commonwealth competing with oxi.-.ting concerns with a view to keeping down tho price- of rofmed sugar while raising the price of raw. The Commission recommends an amendment to the Constitution to cnablo tho Commonwealth to control tho prices of raw sugar and sugar cane, and that the price of raw sugar should be fixed on a si ding scale by an inter-State Commission, the price of cane to bo settled by a Board for each mill. Tho Commission recommends a minimum wago of 8s for an eight-hour day, and better conditions for tho workers; also the retention of tho rebate sugar duty ou exported manufactured products, and a special excls; of £2 per ton on beet sugar when tho production exceeds 10,000 tons.

THE MINORITY REPORT.

(Received December 4th, 10.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, December 4. The minority report of tho Sugar Commission strongly defends the Colonial Sugar Company, and urges that tho beet-sugar industry of Victoria should bo encouraged as far as possible, because it was not likely that tho requirements of Australia would bo met by the production of cane sugar in New South Wales and Queensland for several years to come. Tho conclusions include the following.—The excise bounty, in conjunction with tho other measures, havo fulfilled their purpose; tho profits of the mill-owners and refiners, whilo sufficient, aro not excessive; tho consumer and the primary producer aro better served under' the existing conditions than they would bo under a system of small independent refineries; the farmers do not receive an adequate return for their labour and enterprise. The recommendations include the abolition of the excise bounty; the prohibition of coloured labour; an increase of the import duty on sugar to £7 per ton; but, if tho excise bounty is retained, an increase of tha import duty to £9; wages and conditions of labour to bo regulated by local Boards.