THE SUGAR FIELDS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1930, Page 7

THE SUGAR FIELDS

A DELICATE POSITION,

The situation on the Queensland sugar fields has been growing more and more delicate each year, owing to the gradual encroachment of Italians and ether Southern Europeans into what is one cf Australia’s most profitable) industries. The influx or Italian and Greek immigrants, who, it has been alleged, were prepared to work for lower pay than the award rates, and for longer hours, alarmed the worker's of British stock, who hitherto had done all the work. They feared that the standard of living might be lowered.

CO-OPER ATI VE WORKERS

Those immigrants, however, had many good qualities. They were extremely hard workers, ready to put tip with great discomforts, and able to set a wonderful example in co-opera-tion. Their system was to select or otherwise obtain land for a party of four or six. Lots would be drawn for the sections when it was subdivided, and then the whole party would set to work on one section at a- time, until eventually each one had its own little farm. In the meantime the expenses and receipts were shared. The alien landholders naturally gave preference to their own countrymen when it came to employing labour, consequently the foreign population always tended to increase. The Australian immigration figures show that, excluding British, Italian and Greeks coming into the country exceeded all other nationalities. In 1927 the peak was reached when practically 8000 Italians and 2000 Greeks entered the country, hut so much resentment was expressed that restrictions were imposed and in the following year those figures were halved. ON THE CUN'KETTLES.

Evidence of the ill-feeling on tlie eanefields is given in the recent removal from the Consulate at Innisfail of the Italian eoat-of-avms, and by a recent meeting of 700 Italians at that town when inflammatory speeches were delivered and an attack was made on Australian returned soldiers. A vigorous protest against the growing. practice of giving preference to British workers on the eanefields was made. It was tlie biggest gathering of Italians in the history of the town, and, as feeling is running high special police precautions have been taken.

In his'statement, Air Fordo said:— “There is no risk of Northern Queensland becoming Italianised, for at least seventy-five per cent of mill and field workers are British.” He added that there was no danger of the embargo on foreign imported sugar being lifted. The Government’s policy was to give adequate protection for the local sugar industry, which would enable the white race to v settle ill and develop Northern Queensland. Mr Fordo expressed the hope tliht employers would give preference in employment in cane-cutting gangs to Britishers.

The production of sugar in Australia for the 1927-28 season was 509,094 tons, about 60 per cent, of which was sufficient for the country’s needs. The Commonwealth Government has placed an embargo on the importation of sugar at £'27 per ton. In 1923 the price to the consumer was sixpence a pound, but it has gradually dropped to fourpence halfpenny. The artificial price created inside the country acts 'as a bounty, allowing the remainder to he sold at world’s parity without loss to the producer.