COLONIAL SUGAR COMPANY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 1 November 1912, Page 5

COLONIAL SUGAR COMPANY.

HALF-YEARLY MEETING

(United Pross Association.—Copyright.} Received 10-50 p.m., October 31. SYDNEY, October-31. At the half-yearly meeting of the Colonial Sugar Co.' the net plrofits were shown as follows : —Australia, £119----628; New Zealand and Fiji, £110,000; whereto the balance of £161,544 has been added, making the total available £391,174. A dividend and a bonus at the rate of 12£ per cent per annum was declared. This absorbed £187,500, leaving £204.674 +o bo carried forward. Tho chairman" stated that owing to tho shortness of tho rainfall in Australia and Fiji the crops -were not cutting much below the average. It was impossible to forecast the course of tho European market during the next few months. The immediate future was uncertain.. Next year's crop should be a good ono if rain fell soon. . The company s affairs were normal, .but the samo could net be said of the labour position. If the Minister of Customs' recent edict was carried into effect, he (the chairman) expected a contrac- ' tion of the sugar area in Queensland Ma result of the appeal to the Colonial Office, a better understanding had been ■machod a* regards Fiji, and tho position had been improved accordingly. He considered that comment on the"Suear Commission was undesirable, as proceedings wero still pending. The costs in connection therewith had been consider- ! .abio. and had been written off t