DUTY ON JAVA SUGAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1923, Page 4

DUTY ON JAVA SUGAR.

NEARLY THREE POUNDS A TON. PROTECTING COLONIAL COMPANY. PROPOSAL BEFORE PARLIAMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In a statement in the House to-day, the Hon. W. D. Stewart said that some time ago the Colonia] Sugar Company intimated to the Government that unless a protective duty qf £3 per ton w placed upon imported refined sugar they would have to close down the Auckland refinery, as they were unable to compete with the cheaper Java sugar. The matter was referred by the Government to the Industries Cdmmittee of the House, and during the past few days that committee had taken the evidence of merchants, manufacturers and others, who stressed the necessity of maintaining ample supplies of sugar, which was largely used in some of our most important industries. As a result of the consideration given to the matter the committee recommended that an import duty be imposed on refined sugar amounting to £2 18s 4d per ton, and the House would be asked to ratify that proposal. This preference, he said, would enable the Colonal Sugar Company s refinery at Auckland to continue operations, and that was in itself a matter of some importance, ae a large number of hands were employed there. lhe proposed duty, if imposed, would continue until September, 1924, when it could be reviewed. If there was no opportunity of bringing down a Tariff Bill during the next few weeks probably the House would be asked to pass ’a resolution, which would place the matter beyond doubt, and then merchants and the company would know exactly where they stood.