The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-02-17

absolute ruin in consequence OF the
unfortunate position of affairs descTib-
ed above, we are informed by the same
circular that the Georgetown Planters
Association has applied to the Imperi-
al Government for relief, and has sug-
gested that one of the following three
measures should be adopted: (a) The
immediate payment from the Imperial
Treasury of a sum per ton of sugar
exported from the colony equal TO the
bounty on export sugar given by Ger
many so as to place the industry in the
colony on an equal footing and in
IS favorable a position as that of for
eign countries now exporting beet SUI
gar to Great Britain. CD The arrange
ment of a conference of the European
countries giving export bOunties on
beet sugar, with a view of settling a
joint agreement for the immediate abo-
lition of such bounties. This matter
of relief to be of any eXistance to Brit
ish Guiana must be very promptly
carried out (c) The imposition of
countervailing duty on all foreign SUI
gar imported into Great Britain equal
10 the bounty given at the port of eX-
port"
Now it may readily be believed that
the sugar planters of British Guiana
are not in a very prosperous condition;
the peremptory character of the i'm
practicable suggestions put forward in
the circular quoted above in itself sug-
gests that their industry is suffering
severely. 1t may be easily understood
that a fall of prices, such as that IN
Dictated in the statement Of the case
has seriously embarrassed the indus
try But it can scarcely be credited
that such a fall of prices in an industry
which can produce sugar from cane
more cheaply" than unsubsidised
beet-sugar can be produced is due 10
the European sugar bounties. Accord
ing TO their own admission, the plan
tiers have an advantage over the beet
sugar producers which at least partly
counterbalances the bounties; and #
the fall in value of their exports of
sugar during the last twelve or thir-
teen years, from &2,606, 429 to G $685.
705, is not due, except probably to a
small extent. 20 the Continental boun
ties, it is quite clear that a counter
vailing bounty or duty would not re
store the old prosperity to the sugar
industry of BRITISH Guiana. Cane SUI
gar is grown in the United States, and
it is protected, except as regards Ha
waiian sugar, by very heavy duty;
but in spite of this duty, German beet
SUR is being imported into the United
States in quantities which are increaS-
ing by leaps and bounds, the total for
the first eight months of this year, as
we pointed out the other day, being
estimated at nearly 900, 900, 000lbS., Is
against only about 135, 600 ,000lbS. for
the corresponding period in 1894 and
about 167 900, 00OlbS. for the first eight
months last year. What reason is there,
then, to suppose that a subsidy to the
British Guiana planters, or a counter
vailing bounty would be effective in
closing the British market to beet
sugar, or enhancing the selling price
of Guiana sugar? For the rest, the
remedies suggested are quite out OF
question. The Guiana planters are not
the only persons who have had to face
an enormous fall of prices. British
agriculturists have suffered in the
same way, and how can they be ex-
pected to give, with the rest of the
people of the mother country, a gra-
tuity to the colonial sugar-planters?
1t would be just as reasonable to ask
the planters to contribute TIC the sup
port of English wheat-grOwers. And
where are such subsidies to stop? For
duty is equally out of the question; if
such duty were imposed in the in
terest of colonial sugar planters, re-
taliatory duties in the assumed inter
ests of other colonial, and also in the
interests of home industries could not
be refused. For in most cases-that OF
American cotton goods, for instance
protective duties operate as bounties
on exports. AS for the arrangement of
a European Conference for the general
abolition of bounties, there could be
no objection to it, if it were likely TO
be effective. But can anybody
suppose that a proposal for such
a conference from the British Govern
ment would be effective? Sooner or
later the bounty giving countries may
awaken to a perception of the foolish
ness of their system, and arrange such
a conference amongst themselves; but
on what commin ground could we
claim to discuss the matter with them?
Guardian.