THE CUBA REVIEW 



31 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY 



A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE SUGAR 

 MARKET 



Upon reviewing the conditions domin- 

 ating tlie sugar market during the past 

 six montlis, it must be admitted that what 

 has happened in the severe falling oft in 

 prices is what was to be expected, and 

 was inevitable. During the period of high 

 prices when the consumers in the United 

 States were confronted with a possible 

 shortage of sugar, they were encouraged 

 on all sides by speculators, operators and 

 grocers to lay in a small supply of sugar. 

 Heavy buying created a large invisible 

 supply, Avhich all those carrying private 

 stocks began to draw on as soon as there 

 was any indication of a falling in the 

 price of this commodity. 



This same idea of accumulation of 

 stocks was not only confined to the con- 

 sumer in a small degree, but also to specu- 

 lators and jobbers. With the prospect of 

 realizing a big profit, speculators did not 

 hesitate to take upon themselves big re- 

 sponsibilities in the purchase of large 

 quantities of raw sugars and refined 

 STigars at high prices. As it is impossi- 

 ble to determine the quantity of sugar 

 which consequently has been stored up, it 

 is difficult to prognosticate when we may 

 expect a turn in the market. 



It has been reported that the situation 

 has been further complicated by certain 

 dealers of refined sugars notifying the re- 

 finers of their inability to pay for same at 

 the high contract cost, because of their 

 inability to finance these sugars during 

 the period of stagnation which they an- 

 ticipate during the consumption of the 

 large supplies now held in second hands. 

 They claim that this action on their part 

 is necessary because of the refusal of the 

 banks to extend their credits in the face 

 of what they considered a glutted market 

 at inordinately high prices. 



At the writing of this article, there is 

 little prospect of the market recovering, 

 although statistically, it is agreed that 

 there still exists a shortage of sugar, and 

 that there is not enough sugar to meet all 

 anticipated demands. It is, therefore, evi- 

 dent that a waiting policy on the part of 



the sellers is the best policy, inasmuch as 

 to force sugars on this market would be 

 ruinous and detrimental to the trade as a 

 whole, and quite unnecessary in the face 

 of the best information available from ex- 

 pert statisticians. 



ASSOCIATION OF SUGAR WORKERS OF 

 HAVANA 



Facts About Sugar for September 25th 

 reports the formation in Havana at a 

 meeting held September 12th of the As- 

 sociation of Sugar Workers in Havana, 

 representing employes of the mills in this 

 province. At the same meeting certain 

 basic terms were agreed upon for presen- 

 tation to the mill owners. These provide 

 that eight hours shall be considered a 

 day's work, all overtime to be paid for 

 and three regular eight-hour shifts to be 

 instituted. Where only two shifts are 

 worked, the employes shall receive cor- 

 respondingly higher pay, each twelve 

 hours counting as a day and a half. Em- 

 ployes residing at a distance shall be pro- 

 vided with transportation to the mill on 

 first-class tickets and shall have proper 

 food and living accommodations. 



Six months shall be considered the 

 minimum length of the crop season and 

 employes shall be engaged for at least 

 this period. Salaries shall be regulated 

 by the following scale : Superintendent 

 of sugar maldng, subject to agreement; 

 assistant superintendent, $500 _ a month; 

 head sugar boiler, .$300 ; assistant sugar 

 boiler, $175 ; assistant in charge of de- 

 fecation, $200; chief chemist, $500; as- 

 sistant chief chemist, $250 ; other as- 

 sistant chemists, $175. 



SUGAR IMPORTS FROM MEXICO 

 Sugar exports from Mexico to the 

 United States through the port of Vera 

 Cruz were valued at $6,3-31,757 during 

 the first six months of 1920. 



Sugar plantations in the neighborhood 

 of Vera Cruz have suffered lately from 

 an invasion of moles, and are in need of 

 traps and poisons with which to fight the 

 pests. 



