CHELSEA SUGAR WORKS

Feilding Star, Volume 2, Issue 317, 22 August 1924, Page 5

CHELSEA SUGAR WORKS

THE SITUATION SAVED TUG DERATE IN THE HOUSE LATIOURITES VOTE WITH LIBERALS GOVERNMENT WINS BY THREE VOTES AGAIN (Per Press Association.) Welington, Aug. 21. A lengthy discussion arose in the House when Mr Harris brought down the report of the Industries and Commerce Committee, which staled that tlie committee wa.s of opinion that in the interests of the Dominion the Chelsea sugar works should remain open. Further, the committee was agreed that some protection to the Sugar Company was necessary. The committee, had, however, been unable to arrive, at a. decision as to the amount to such protection. .Mr Harris said the only other source of supply was Java They had to consider that white labour was employed in New Zealand at a minimum wage of Its per day of eight hours, while black labour in Java was paid at lOd per day of 12 hours. THE LIBERAL ATTITUDE Mr Wilford regretted the committee. had been unable to give the House a lead and that the result of the committee's work had been abortive. The Liberal Party’s altitude was that it would be a life to go thoroughly into the matter when the Government, had decided as to the question of duty, and he. would, reserve his remarks until the Government brought down a pol icy. Mr Masters said the Liberal Party would Vote consistently with their conduct last year. viz., they would vote against the imposition of any duty' on sugar. Whether a duty is imposed or whether it is not will make no difference to the price of sugar, for the simple reason that the price is hot controlled outside New Zealand altogether. a labour Amendment Mr Fraser said that superior to any tariff nr fiscal method would lie a proposal for flic Government to go into the control of the sugar required for (lie Dominion. He, moved an amendment that the report he referred hack to the committee, with a reeomendatioii that it should immediately confer with the Colonel Sugar Refining Company with a view to considering the question of the Government resuming control of the sugar supply of the Dominion and the price that should he paid to the company for: (a) refining sugar at Chelsea works by the process at present in operation ; (b) ns an allowance for the capital invested and in the said works, such, an allowance to ensure a reasonable return on the said capital, depreciation, etc. ; (e) distributing sugar throughout the Dominion, any proposed arrangement to contain a proviso giving the New Zealand Government the right to purchase supplies of raw sugar and the Colonel Sugar Refining Company shall refine such sugar at Chelsea and distribute! it at agreed upon rates as per (a), (b), and (/*).. This scheme, would prevent the House having a tariff dictated to them by the Company. He objected to a pistol being held at their heads by this or any other combination.

MR MASSEY PITTS THE CASE

-Mr. Massey said* they must remember that for many years New Zealand was dependant on the sugar com pain for supplies. They now came to I lie Government and said they would not carry on without the assistance of a duty. He did not, believe this was a bluff. If a duty were not agreed to the works would be closed down and would we have to go to some other for supplies. Wo should also remember that during the war, New Zealand had the cheapest sugar in the world. If the works closed down, between MOO and 400 workmen would l/e thrown out of work, and to the Auckland Harbour Board there would he a pro-, ha hie loss of £15,01)0. They had now to choose between having our sugar refined in our own country and a fin: industry kept going in the Dominion and giving the benefit of that industry to some other country whore coloured labour was employed. New Zealand was considered the most British country in the Empire. Heaven forbid that it should go out to the world that we turned down our people and preferred getting our sugar grown in black labour at 3d per hour. It might be said that the Indian labour employed in Fiji was black labour, hut lie could not look at it in that light, for we must remember that the Indians' were of our Empire and our fellow citizens. Time was when the Government exercised control over the sugar supply, with the result that there were complaints coining in day after day to the effect that tire Government was interfering with the trade and industry of the country. Personal, he thought it was necessary interference at the time. He did not want to go back to that system, but if they did the State Avould recpiire protection just as much as the company. Further, he was advised that Java sugar was no use for jam malting, so what was to be done for jam niaknig

if we were, compelled to get sugar from outside? Personally, he thought there might he a choice of two evils, and he advised the House te select the lesser. Mr Fraser’s amendment was lost by 39 to .30 votes. TWO MORE AMENDMENTS Air Nash (Reform) then moved as an amendment that in t'ie opinion of this House a protective duty of L2 18s •Id should ■■'Tie imposed on all while sugar of Dutch standard No. 22 and over. In support of this proposal he read resolutions passed by the Chelsea workmen favouring the imposition of a duty so as to enable them to retain their employment. Tf the amendment were carried the matter would rest in the hands of the .Minister, who could terminate the tariff at any moment. Vfr Air-Keen (Labour) moved as n further amendment that the amount of the duty he. not ,C2 18s -Id, but Cl 9s. 2d, which he maintained would provide lhe company with their wages fund. MR HOLLAND’S VIEWS Air Holland, said the Premier had spoken pnthetiealy about sugar produced by coloured labour, hut the fact was the only country in the world where sugar was produced by white labour was Australia, where prices wore slightly higher than in New Zealand, He thought that rather than have sugar produced by coloured labour New Zealand consumers would be prepared to pay an additional price. He was not concerned about Lhe Colonial Sugar Refinery Company, bill Ire was condomed about 350 Workers who' would ho thrown out o employment if the works were closed down. Itc insisted if the, duty proposed by .Mr Nash’s amendment was carried, there should he some guarantee that prices would not lie raised to the people of New Zeala nil. THE CRUCIAL DIVISION At 11.30, Mr Me.Keen’s nmondmoift was put to the 1 louse and lost by 33 votes to 30. Air Nash’s amendment was then put, and on a. division, was agreed to by 33 votes to 30, the following being the division list on Mr Nash’s amendment : For the Amendment (33). — Anderson, Bell, Ritehener, Bollard, Coates, J. Al. Dickson. J. S. Dickson, Field. Girling, Glenn, Guthrie, Harris, Unbare, Hockley, Hudson, Hunter, Linklater, f.ysnar, McLeod, Massey, Nash. Noswortliy. Parr, Pdmare, Potter, Hon. R. Rhodes, J. C. Rolleston, R. J. Rolleston, Stewart, Sykes, Thomson, Uru, Williams, Against the Amendment (30). Armstrong, Almore, Bartram, Corrigan, doln Perrelle, Edie, Forbes, Eraser, Hawken,. Holland, Langstone, Lee, McCombs, McKce.ii, Afellvride. Mncpherscn, .Masters, .Monloith, Alun-l-o, Murdoch, O’Brien, Parry, Poland. Ransom, Savage, Sidoy, Smith, Siilliva n, AVilord, Wrigh t TARIFF PROVIDED FOR. The House went into Committee of Way and .Means then the following resolution was agreed to and adopted by the lfou.se: “That there shall he payable on sugar of No. 22 colour or over (Dutch standard), and. on [Avert in gar and invert syrup imported! into New Zealand, or entered for home consumption oil or after October 1, 192-1, duties of Customs at the same at?s as if such sugar, invert sugar or invert syrup, had. hoed entered for home consumption immediately before that, date.” The House rose at 1.2.1fi.