The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-12-18
DR.. WALTER MAXWELL.


me space for a public protest on behau !
of my company against the main pro
vision of the Sugar Experiment sta
tions Bill now before Parliament. 1hls |
Is the levy Of Id. per ton on all cane
crushed In Queensland, for the sup !
port Of the stations, half of which is |
to be paid by the grower and half by
the mill-Owner. Now, in regard TO the
growers share, much can be said as
to the unfairness of making cane farm
crs pay for advice which Is offered
gratis to others engaged in dairying,
etc, but with this point I do not pro-
pose to deal, as the representatives ot
the coastal districts are certain to fight
such an unjust proposal In the Assem-
bly,. As to the manufacturers share,
however, it is impossible for anyone
who is familiar with the working Cf
our factories and understands the eff
cheney of our chemical supervision u
argue that my company can derive the
least benefit from the establishment OF
the new department, or should pay any
thing towards the cost thereof. yet We
would under this bill have to pay a
contribution Of E700 year in addition
to e1oO and GOO a year payable IL
respect Of the cane grown on the plan
tations we still work. At the same
time the manufactures who opposed
us most strongly in the Australian
markets, and who have not gone 70 the
IeNpense Of employing chemists, and
we're the principal advocates Of the
! engagement Of DR.. Maxwell will eaci
pay sum less than the salary Cf q
competent analyst. while obtaining IL.
|, fun advantage Of the Government st1
tiOns. which. under these circuw
stances. would be maintained In par
at our expense. Ard there are two 9th
er facts which can b. quoted in opp1s.
tiOu 60 this levy on u. The hrst
, that since we commenced work D.
. Queensland the arrangements Of ou
, mills have been public property. Ever
, change deemed to b. an improvemen
, has been adopted without reference &
us by other Tnill-owners. and this prac
: tice. has been carried so far that -
\ some mills recently erected the specih
2 lcatfons describe parts Of the plant a
I l"similar to that of the Sugar Company
mill" All concerned In the trade hav
, thus got the benefit Of our expensiv
researches without cost To themselves
y an advantage that any man with eN
- perience in the manufacture Of an ar
= ltiCte can appreciate. The second poin
o lis that we are already subjected TO un
- fair and discriminating taxation; W
pay now e1.soo per annum as dividen
duty in respect Of our interests i
y Queensland, and every one Of thos
u rnillowners who produce white suga
has been exempt from this tax not b.
= cause their business has not been profit
4 able. but because the levy is made o
,. companies only. private firms bein
free frOT1 all taxation on their income
. Yet TO the charge thus imposed on u
T. 10 is proposed to add f7O0 n year to /
Il devoted to providing the advice
70 trained chemists for the advantages
p the firms just alluded to: cannot thin
n u possible that a Parliament seized
:, this fact can permit such an injustic
There only remains for me tn add tha
~ when the engagement of n chemist Il
lt this work was proposed. no inquiry W;
II made from Us as 70 the salary TO
A. offered or ether terms Of eugagemer
al We could have given much valuable Il
,, formation on the subject and won
= have been glad TO do so. but those WI
y urged the Government to take the n
ld tion which has resulted in the offer
I'd Dr. Maxwell seemed anxious that
n should know nothing Of what was b
~ ing done. though they now wish
=, To- pay n large and undue share Of Z
:, unnecessary expense that has been I
q" CURED.
- I am sir, etc,
e- EDVV. w. KNOX
as General Manager. Colonial Sugar r
ri- fning Company. limited
Sydney. November 5th.