The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-04-28
ENGLISH
OPINION
CONTINUED from page u

tCOnllnuSQ nom page II
provisions of the Brussels sugar con-
vention in 1902, coupled with the duty
on sugar imported into this country,
amounting to As. ID. per hundred
weight (s1-01 per 112 pounds). equiva-
lent 10 little more than nine-tenths
OF cent 4 pound. Under the terms OF
the Brussels convention, Great Britain
can not import sugar from certain
countries not joining in the conven-
tion-Russia, for instance, in late
years second to Germany only in
production, of sugar and a former
source Of supply for the United King
dom. The Government is bitterly de-
nounced by the opposition, and by
some grocers and confectioners, for
abetting or consenting TO such restric-
ton, since, as is alleged, no countries
joining in the convention could make
UP TO Great Britain the shortage Of
sugar caused by the prohibition
against buying from Russia. Opposed
thereto, however, is the assertion that
the imports from such countries aver
aged the iInmaterial amount Of oniyT
about 80 900 tons in the total import OF
100000 tons of sugar per year. a pro-
portion relatively SO small as TO have
no effect on prices. Furthermore, it
is pointed out, Russia shared in the
1904 shortage, and now has no sugar
to export
The sugar tax imposed in 1901 is al
so denounced by the opposition as a
war tax and also on general principles,
and more grocers and confectioners
petition for its repeal than condemn
the provisions of the sugar convention.
That is to say, the objections to the
conventions provisions are mainly
political while opposition to the sugar
tax is not only political but is also
widespread, for commercial reasons,
among friends of the Government.
The convention, its defenders de-
clare. had 10 influence on the price
of sugar, unless to lower it; for it APP
pears that prices were lower for some
months after the convention (sfgned
in March, 1902 took effect, in Septem-
Der. 1903, and that there was no mate
rial advance in prices for about year
afterwards. They charge the advance
wholly TO the short Continental beet
crop in 1904-the shortage being, by
the latest estimate, 10000 tons. This
was offset by an increase of 100000
tons in cane sugar (mostly West In
diam. which was not, however, suffi-
cient to hold down prices. 1t is claim
ed that this increase was direct re-
suit of the abolition Of sugar bounties
by the Brussels convention, and that
the stimulus thus given to the colo
MES will this year and in following
years greatly enlarge the area of cane
growing. 1t is even asserted that with
out abolition of the bounties the cane
growing industry viii have been viz
tually ruined. Summing up, the Gov
ernment's friends contend that but for
the convention prices would be even
higher than they are now.
AS to the influence of the duty on
sugar. its defenders point out that the
price in this country was more in 1890
before the duty was imposed, and In
1901. when it took effect, than in 1902,
when the tax was being collected In
1903 the price rose but was still less
than before the tax was levied; and
this was also true of even 1904. No
one seriously contends. however, that
the removal OF the duty would Lot
reduce the present price of sugar; for
as none is produced on these islands.
they can not offer that wholesome
competition which compels the foreign
cApOA NC- ~ pay A0N~~N
part OF the import duty
The government has been petitioned
by associations Of grocers. confection-
ers, and other trades people to repeal
the sugar duty, but replies il each
case that it can not spare the e6,000,-
600 (s2e. 19e. 0O0) from its revenues It
points out also that the duty was not
imposed as a war tax, but, as explain
ed By the chancellor of the exchequer
at the time, was necessary TO meet an
increase in ordinary public expendi-
ture.
But whatever the cause of the in
creased price of sugar, il is evidently
a great hardship to various industries.
Confectioners and mineral-water man
ufacturers in particular seem 10 Dc
severe sufferers. 1t is claimed that
the employees of industries using su-
gar as raw material number 1900 less
now than before the sugar tax was
imposed and that shorter working time
affects $4,000 more. In this city the
number of confectioners' employees is
reduced some 2e0. One large London
confectionery concern claims that an
nuaI profits Of about 100000 before the
sugar duty was imposed have dwiI1-
died away to an actual loss OF nearly
SIC. 900 in 1894 Another similar con-
Germ in the midlands says il has paid
no dividend since 1901 and declares
that the tax has reduced its turn
over more than s25o,o00 q year. be-
sides compelling il to pay thousands
of pounds in duty on the sugar IL
used. II is averred that the only con-
fectionery manufactures now in ex-
istence have been saved by their
strong financial position. and that,
generally speaking. all industries de-
pendent upon sugar are being ''throt-
tied
The president Of the National Union
of Mineral Water Manufacturers says
that his trade is suffering as much
as that of confectionery; that the 5000
manufacturers OF mineral water il the
kingdom employ, in normal times, 200
900 workers; that many factories are
now closed, and that in others the