THE COLONIAL SUGAR COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11954, 1 May 1902, Page 5

THE COLONIAL SUGAR COMPANY.

» HALF-YEARLY MEETING. NEW ZEALAND AND FIJI. ' By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. / Sydney, April 30. The. half-yearly meeting of the Colonial Sugar Company was held to-day. The report showed profits amounting to £100,190. A dividend of 10 per cent, was declared. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said business was being affected by the changes of duly on all material used, and the attempt to substitute European for coloured labour in the canefields, which for some time was a cause of trouble in the cane districts. The expectations of a good crop in Australia this year had been dispelled by the drought. Even if good rain came now the ground lost could not be fully recovered, while a continuance of the drought would result in something like failure in parts of New South Wales and Queensland. In Fiji the season had been favourable. He would be content with the prospects there were it not for the persistent efforts of the New Zealand Premier to obtcin control oi the group. In the opinion of the directors this change would not be an advantage to the European settler, the Fijian, or to the coolies the company employ, and it was to be hoped Mr. Seddon's projects ; would not receive the countenance of the j Colonial Office.