MAJOR PROBLEMS FACING AUSTRALIAN SUGAR INDUSTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 June 1948, Page 5

MAJOR PROBLEMS FACING AUSTRALIAN

SUGAR INDUSTRY

(P A.) Auckland, June 9. The biggest problem facing the Australian sugar industry was the handling, through ports, of the huge carry-over of the 1947 season’s sugar, plus the 1948 production, stated Mr. E. R. Knox, chairman of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co., Ltd., in his annual address to shareholders in Sydney today. Without considerable improvement in the rate of waterfront work, said Mr. Knox, enormous losses of sugar, worth several million pounds, were likely to be sustained by producers, and the loss of sugar would fall on the United Kingdom, and possibly on the Australian consuming public. The situation obviously jeopardised the sugar industry’s ability to hold its overseas markets, and therefore affected the future prosperity of the industry. Mr. Knox said the company and representatives of the millers and growers and of the shipping industryhad collaborated to present the position fully and plainly to the Stevedoring Industry Commission, and that body had been asked to effect speedy and effective remedial action. A quicker turn-round of ail vessels was urgently needed. More ships would merely aggravate the problem in most trades by still further congesting ports as they lay idle waiting for watersiders to handle them. Actually 40 per cent, more shipping tonnage was engaged in the Australian coastal trade than before the war, said Mr. Knox, yet less cargo was transported because vessels spent twice as long in port waiting loading and discharging. The fact was that there were sufficient vessels, but the calamitously slow rate of work of the watersiders, coupled with labour disputes, prevented shippers and consignees obtaining adequate service compared with 1939. Watersiders who were still classed as casual labourers, now worked fewer hours, had greatly increased amenities, received attendance money on days when no work was available, holiday pay And annual leave, and earned a good average weekly wage in return. The daily rate or work on sugar boats was less than half it was in 1939. Regularly before the war 100,000 tons of raw sugar a month was shipped from north Queensland ports. Last season only 41,000 tons a month were shipped. The prolonged starage of raw sugar through the wet season in the tropics was directly due to the waterfront position, stated Mr. Knox. It caused serious deterioration, resulting in a big ipss. ________