SUGAR PRODUCTION.

Wairarapa Age, 9 May 1924, Page 7

SUGAR PRODUCTION.

EMPIRE PREFERENCE. PROPOSAL REJECTED. London, May 7.—The proposal to stabilise preference on Empire -sugar nt 514 d per cwt for one year, as compared with 10 years as recommended at the Imperial Conference, was made in an amendment moved by Sir Mitchell Thomson, in the course of the Budget discussion. .Speaking to his amendment, the mover pointed out that the effect of the Budget proposals would be to reduce the preference proposals to Is 11 Ad per cwt, and contended that preference in the past had resulted in an increase pf Empire sugar production from 18 per cent of the world’s production in 1913 to 22 per cent last year. He compared the preference of 33/10 per ton given by Britain to the West Indies with £lO 5s given by the United States to Porto Rico, and maintained that expansion of the Empire sugar industry was essential politically, fiscally, commercially and imperially. Mr Ormbsy Gore, in seconding, maintained that the Colonial Secreta-ry had failed lamentably in not impressing on the Chancellor consideration of the West Indies and Mauritius interests which demanded . the stabilisation of preference. = The worst feature of the Budget was the repudiation of the responsibilities to the tropical Crown colonies. ;

Mr Philip Snowden, opposing, said the total Empire production only increased 10 per cent in 3 years since preference began to operate, while the West Indies, for which a special plea was entered, had actually decreased. Preference simply meant a subsidy by the British taxpayers to the West Indies planters; it had disastrously reduced the production of Empire sugar by 25 per cent.

Lord Percy, on'behalf of the Opposition, protested against the Government acting contrary to its pledge to take's free vote pn the Economic Conference ’s resolutions.

Mr William Graham (Financial Secretary) replied that the pledge only concerned the forthcoming debate on the Imperial Conference. The sugar resolution was confirmed unaltered.—(Reuter.)