390 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



opinion that the permission given by the Dominion Government 

 in the early months of 1909 to the refiners to purchase and 

 import 20 per cent, of their consumption of non-preferred sugar 

 upon preferential terms was rightly regarded by the West 

 Indian producer with deep concern, as the effect of the con- 

 cession was to reduce the value of the Canadian market to him 

 to the extent of 20 per cent. It was also regarded that it might 

 place a weapon in the hands of those interested in the Canadian 

 refinery industry which would enable them to exercise such 

 pressure upon the West Indian producers as would deprive 

 the latter of any advantage from the preference. 



The situation was a delicate one but the difficulty is likely 

 to be overcome by a compromise suggested by Sir Nevile 

 Lubbock and supported by Mr. Sandbach Parker, that, pro- 

 vided the concession to the refiners were withdrawn, a smaller 

 preference than at present exists would attract West Indian 

 raw sugar, and would be regarded as a material benefit by the 

 growers. 



The question of the continuance of the Canadian reciprocity 

 is next discussed. It is admitted, as the result of the preference 

 in the customs tariff, that the Canadian market has become of 

 great importance to the sugar-growers in the West Indies. The 

 grant of the preference was part of the Imperial policy of the 

 Dominion Government, which neither demanded concessions 

 in return nor even questioned whether the tariff systems in 

 force in the West Indies imposed any burden on the trade 

 of Canada. It is evident that from the point of view of the 

 Dominion the existing position is by no means satisfactory, 

 the Canadian Government gave the preference freely and they 

 would be justified in withdrawing it if it suited their policy to 

 do so. The Commissioners represent *' that if this contingency 

 can be avoided, or even deferred, by some present concessions 

 on the part of the West Indian Colonies that concession ought 

 to be made." The question then arises, What is to be the nature 

 of the consideration which the West Indian Colonies can offer 

 Canada in return for an undertaking that the benefits which 

 they have so long enjoyed shall not be withdrawn ? It was 

 understood that any concession made to imports from the 

 Dominion should also be extended to like commodities from 

 the United Kingdom. This principle has obtained universal 

 recognition in the West Indies. The Commissioners then 



