WEST INDIES SUGAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 370, 13 September 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

WEST INDIES SUGAR

The situation in tho West Indies is very serious, and if the British Government removes the existing preference to West Indian sugar, then, it is stated on the highest authority, the industry is doomed. The present attitude of the Home Government is not to interfere in any way with the normal course of trade mid markets, but to help if possible by research or improvements that will enable the industry to withstand world competition. Attention »has been directed to the desirability of improving the quality of the cane, stamping out plant disease and facilitating transport, Jamaica and Trinidad arc staving off Iho evil day by subsidies, being the only’ colonies that are able to do so. In other places men arc being dismissed, the wages of others arc being reduced and the machinery is deterior-

ating. Tho Sugar Commission argued that with sugar pric - pooled through an Import Board white sugar could be retailed in England, neglecting duty, at. IJd per pound, while with uncontrolled importation it could be cold at 14d per pound. For the extra farthing a pound the industry m the West Indies could be saved. It is not much when we consider the price paid by Australians for maintaining their in-

dustry. But this means planters would just be able to carry on. The Commission of 1897, consisting of Sir Henry Norman, Sir David Barbour, and the present Earl Grey of Fallodon, reported: “The benefit which the British Empire as a whole derives from any lowering of the price of sugar due to the operation of the bounty

system is too dearly’ pur-chased oy the injury which that system imposes on a limited class,

namely, your Majesty 's West Indian and other subjects dependent on the Sugar industry.” The remedy suggested by the recent Commission is to control prices by an Import Board, which would be comparatively easy because the associated refineries are really the only buyers; or, to maintain

the preference. Lord Oliver points out that Britain created the colonies, and as sugar is their only hope she has a moral obligation to stand beside them. “Independently of the cruelty to the colonies i: volved in such callous meanness it will certainly provoke the contempt of all our dominions and the malicious amusement of our national trade competitors.” The sugar industry has existed in the West Indies for over 200 years, and has been responsible for the flow of great wealth into Britain. A tremendous quantity of machinery has been, and is being, continually exported to the Indies, and it would bw a calamity in more ways than one were the industry forced out of existence through the failure to adopt possible remedies.— Manawatu Daily Times.