136 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



protectionists maintained that the reduction of the duties 

 would bring about no perceptible increase in the consump- 

 tion of sugar. Lord George Bentinck, the champion of 

 the sugar monopolists, went to the length of showing that 

 under no conceivable circumstances could the people con- 

 sume more than 5,600,000 cwts. of sugar in the course of a 

 year. In the third year after the prophecy was issued the 

 total consumption rose to considerably over that figure."^ 

 In 1854 the consumption had exactly doubled its former 

 figure, reaching 34 lbs. per head per annum. In this year 

 the duties were increased again because of the Crimean 

 War, and the consumption dropped from 34 to 28 lbs. 

 From the close of the Russian war to the present time, 

 finally, the consumption has steadily increased, reaching as 

 already mentioned 86 Vo'i. per capita in 1895. 



We have seen the effect of the Continental system of 

 premiums upon the Colonial produce, and there seems little 

 hope of improvement in the Colonies until the bounties are 

 abolished. What likelihood is there of the latter taking 

 place ? The competing Continental nations are feeling the 

 pressure of sugar taxation severely. Of these the principal 

 producers are : — 



Germany, 1894-5, - - 1,844,586 tons. 



Austria, ,, - - 1,055,321 tons. 



France, ,, - - 792,511 tons. 



Russia, ,, - - 615,058 tons. 



Belgium, ,, - - 243,957 tons. 



Other Countries, „ - - 240,597 tons. 



Various attempts have been made to arrive at an inter- 

 national understanding with the object of abolishing the 

 bounties, as It is felt that the position is abnormal in that 

 the industry is no longer such a one as needs artificial 

 fostering. Obviously such action must be agreed upon by 

 the larger exporting countries — Germany, France, Austria, 

 Belgium and Holland. At the London Conference (1887) 

 the British Government took the initiative in this direction, 



Reed. 



