10 
Of these, 71,771, or 79 per cent., were coolie immigrants, veving 
atter o ise 
expressed in evidence that the existence of the sugar industry on 
the present maint is entirely dependent on the continuance of 
coolie immigrati 
27. The cost of production 1 per ton of sugar has been greatly 
reduced of late years. From figures supplied by the Colonial 
Company, Limited, it would appear that after deducting the offal, 
the net cost of produ cing a ton of sugar has been reduced from 
ls. 7d. in 1883-84 to 97. in 1895-96. This reduction has 
been chiefly effected in the cost of ar realty In 1883-84 the 
ost of manufacture only was 9/. ue ” 1895-26 it ae been 
gradually reduced to 4/. 15s. per fference of 5/. Os, 10d. 
The reduction z wer cost A 'enltivation. (principally wages) was 
not so great. 1883-84 i s 6/. 6s. 7d.; in 1895-96 it was 
instances, with a rich soil and good seasons, the cost of production, 
without offal, has been brought as low as 8/. Os. 6d. The average 
for the Colony is, however, placed at 9/. 10s. per ton. These 
reductions have been effecte by the introduction of new and 
improved machinery, and by- carrying on operations on a large 
scale with high technical supervision. For ppe years the value 
of the sugar machinery imported into a Colony has exceeded 
100,000/., and in a eee year (1884) it had aan a value of 
182,576/. The average value per annun: over a period of 18 years 
was 74,394/., while the total amount expended on new machinery 
during that period was £1,339,098. It is stated in evidence that 
wages on sugar estates have “been reduced during past years by 
20 to 25 per cent,” but it is see that the cost of living is 
somewhat less than forme rly. 
28. Although the area under cultivation has been reduced, it is 
clear that the production per acre has been increased, owing to a 
better selection of land and improved methods of applying 
artificial manures. In extracting the juice from the cane, with 
few exceptions the mills are fitted with double and triple 
rushing machinery with or without maceration, and by 
diffusion in two factories. With the present relative prices of 
sugar and coal the diffusion process ae. introduced compares 
unfavourably with that of double crushin 
In canes containing 12 per cent. of ee the following per- 
entages of s goai are extracted in the form of aoa Singl 
a z 
Jouble skin (with 12 per cent. of dil ations, 88 88 p cent. ; 
triple crushing (with 10 per cent. agai 30. per cent. ; A eh 
(with 25 per cent. dilution), 94 per cent. From this juice there 
s recovered to 88 per cent. a the form of marketable sugar, 
is olarising on the average about 95 degrees 
29. The average return of sugar obtained all over the colony is 
placed by Professor Harrisen at about 9 per cent. of the weight of 
canes. This is not so high as in the best ee Econaati 
but is equal to the average return obtained with beet in France. 
Taken as a whole, it may be stated that the aain and 
had 
