Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-06
AND
SUGAR INDUSTRY
TROUBLES QUIET
PTemier'S Timely Action Re-
moves Discomfort Among
Producers and Public

MELBOURNE, Australia-One Of
the many important war problems 70
be settled by the Australian govern
ment was that Of the sugar industry
The position looked somewhat peril
Gus, and matters were far from salts,
factory. not only by the producers
but by the public. a the way IN
which things had developed. Mr..
Hughes. the prime minister OF the
commonW ealth, however. stepped IN,
and in his characteristic way, settled.
at least for a time, this VeXed Ques-
ton
The Australian sugar industry Is
one OF great Importance at the pres
ent time, something like G13,Q0O,O0O
being invested in it. In Queensland
about 5000 farmers rely solely upon
the production Of sugar for their live
lihood, and there are $4,000 people dl-
rectly interested in the production OF
sugar A large part OF the northern
lands OF the Common would Of
fer little encouragement to settlers
were it not for the cultivation OF SUI
gar, and if anything happened to Grip
pie this great industry, it would mean
that even a larger part Of Australia
than at present. would be exposed to
many outward dangers; for there are
races who would be only too eager
to settle on this rich soil.
The Australian sugar growers have
shown grit Their lot has been varied,
and although some years they have
done well, it must be admitted that
the lean years have predomlnated.
Apart altogether from this, they have
always been able TO rely upon secur-
ity Of tenure. Generally speaking
Australia is unanimous in favor Of
white labor, and the white Australian
policy predominates, but it must be
frankly admitted that there is a Sec
ton Of the community which faVors
in a small degree the importation Of
colored labor to work on the sugar
plantations. One Of the first acts OF
the federal parliament was to seal
the fate of "kanaka" labor. 1t took
considerable time to carry out this
policy, but to all intents and purposes
the government has succeeded in
eradicating colored labor and the SD
gar industry is practically all worked
BY white men.
At the outbreak of war in August,
1914, the Queensland sugar grower
was in an unfortunate plight. There
had been a very poor season, the cane
had matured badly, and the sugar had
severely suffered. 1t must be ex-
planned that the price of sugar in
Australia formerly depended chiefly
upon the prices ruling in the worlds
markets. The Australian price was
lust kept at a level which prevented
Importation and protection to the ex-
tent of &c per ton was considered
sufficient to give the growers fair
return.
When the war broke out, the price
of sugar on the home market rose
fabulously. Germany and Russia,
both extensive producers Of beet su-
gar, had for some years Jumped their
surplus production on the British
market, and there being no more sup
plies visible, the imperial authorities
found themselves in perilous posi-
ton. By means of enormous pur-
chases in the West Indies, in the Far
East, and other cane producing coun-
tries, plentiful supplies were obtained,
but at such tremendous cost that the
retail price of sugar in the United
Kingdom had to be doubled
ID 1t was at this time that the Queens.
land sugar growers came into conflict
with the state authorities in New
South Wales and Victoria. Price fix.
ing boards in those states determined
the selling prices OF sugar at rates
which, considering the decreased out
put, left the growers without profit.
Representations made to the state
authorities to increase the selling
rates were unsuccessful, and the po-
sition Of the growers became so des-
perate that appeals for intervention
were made to the commonwealth.