SUGAR 151 



Mackay, the Herbert, Johnstone River, and Cairns. It 

 is in these places to-day that almost tTie entire output is 

 manufactured, the extreme southern districts making- 

 very little. From this period the industry commenced to 

 expand till 1875, when a disease termed " rust," combined 

 with an excessive rainfall, ruined nearly all the cane, and 

 a good many of the cane farmers with it. The financial 

 institutions became alarmed and refused to render further 

 aid. The variety most affected was the Bourbon cane, 

 but it was noticed that small patches of Rappoe or Rose 

 Bamboo were not touched. Those who survived the 

 blow commenced the cultivation of this variety, and con- 

 fidence was soon restored, though many plantations 

 changed hands. During 1879 and 1880 a rush set in for 

 Queensland sugar lands, and plenty of capital was made 

 available. The production of sugar in tons from 1870 

 to 1880 is given as follows : 



Year Tons Year Tons 



1870 ... 2,854 1876 . 8,214 



1871 ... 3,762 1877 



1872 ... 6,266 1878 



1873 7,987 1879 



1874 ... 12,108 1880 



1875 6,322 



13,784 



^' 5 o 5 

 18,982 



15.681 



During the next decade, 1881 to 1890, the production 

 in tons varied from 16,660 to 68,924; 1891 to 1900, 51,219 

 to T 63, 734; and 1901 to 1910, 76,626 to 210,756; while 

 last year (1913) it reached 241,496 tons. The cane manu- 

 factured into sugar for this record crop was 2,065,144 tons 

 produced on 103,090 acres. 



From 1863 to the advent of Federation in 1901, the 

 sugar industry was almost entirely carried on by South 

 Sea Islanders. This class of labour, while eminently 

 serviceable and of the greatest use in opening up the 

 country, was always distasteful to the majority of 

 Australians, and when Federation took place steps were 

 taken to make the industry entirely a " White " one. 

 This was accomplished by passing a measure prohibiting 

 Kanakas entering' Australia after 1904, and providing' for 

 the deportation of those who had been engaged within a 

 certain period. This only left some 2,000 Kanakas in 

 Queensland, the majority of whom had resided for years 



