_ were not good enough. 
OS Sry ya 7 
' a 
Pearce), to whom the farmers of Queensland owed the erection of the first 
central sugar-mill, had differed from him on this point, and had tried to grow — 
Sugar with white labour. Te failed, however. 
| Mr. Tuyyne having suggested that perhaps Mr. Denman might go further — 
into the details of the failure of white labour to do this work, | 
Mr. Dewxatay instanced the Mackay central sngar-mills, These were 
originally under an obligation only to use cune that had been grown by white — 
labour. They had tried to do so, but if the Government had not withdrawn — 
the prohibition they would have had to have thrown up the business. The — 
furthest they have got is to have white labour only within the mill. He then — 
Mentioned the cases of white contractors cutting cane, but refusing to load it. 
They should always remember this: Cane once cut had to be crushed within 
twenty-four hours. It was not like wheat; and if men refused to handle it, it 
was spoilt. In tact, the only work white men will do in the canefield in the 
North was the cutting. They had advertised fer men for other work, but j 
could never get any to agree to do it. 
Mr. O’Kerrs (Laidley) here remarked that he believed there was a 
prevailing notion that white men would not do the work because the wages 
In reply to this, Mr. Swayne (Mackay) read extracts from a report of a 
sugar company’s inspector at Mackay, and gave instances of the actual wages 
earned by European cane-cutters in the North. Throughout one season two — 
gangs earned 25s. 6d. per week per man after paying for rations. New hands had } 
earned at the rate of 18s. 8d. per week clear of ration money and another shilling ~ 
for extras. These were new hands. Older hands on a similar job earned 25s, — 
per week clear of everything, and others made up to as much as £2 per week. 
_ Mr. Swaynz pointed out that many of the mills in his district would 
require 400 tons of cane every twenty-four hours. Every stoppage that — 
occurred had to come out of the cost of the cane, Again, with the exception — 
of butter, sugar was the only agricultural product of Queensland that had to 
compete in the world’s markets. The price of sugar in this country was ruled — 
by Java, and Jaya was probably ruled by Europe. The prices paid by their 
competitors for field labour would be interesting. In the figures given, the — 
men had to find themselves in everything, including focd. Europe (beet 
sugar)—Men, 2s. per day; women, ls. per day; harvesting done by — 
machinery at a cost of Gs. per acre. Demerara and West Indics—Coolie ; 
labour, at 10d. to 1s. 4d. per day. Viji—Kanakas, at 50 per cent. less cost 
thanin Queensiand. Tahiti—Coolies, 9d. per day. Java and Philippines—5d. ~ 
‘to 8d. per day. Straits Settlements—Coolies, 5d. per day. Mauritius—Gd. — 
per day. Reunion—1s. 3d. per day. Egypt—734d. per day. In Queensland — 
the Kanaka costs the farmer 2s. Gd. per day. | 
Mr. ‘Turwyx said the subject was to a certain extent a delicate one, and — 
he trusted the discussion on it would keep clear of party politics. Personally, 
he would be very sorry if it appeared he had encouraged the utilisation of the — 
Conference for a political purpose. So long, however, as they kept clear of © 
party politics he thought the members of the Conference were quite within — 
_ their rights in expressing their opinion on matters cf State policy which 
affected their interests. Mr. Denman’s paper had brought before them, from — 
his particular point of view, many of the difficulties the sugar-planters of the © 
North had to contend with. The whole of the matter resolred itself into two — 
- questions—whether white men could do the work necessary in the production — 
of cane for the mill, and, if so, would they do it? Mr. Swayne had said he © 
considered they could dothe work. ‘!hen came the question, Were they willing — 
to doit? This introduced a third question. Were they offered a fair price 
for doing it? They had a statement from Mr. Swayne to the effect that men — 
could earn from 18s. to 25s. 6d. per week clear of rations and quarters. They 
- could then ask themselves if the work deserved a higher rate of wages, and, if | 
so, could the sugar industry afford it ? The whole matter, he thought, appeared — 
to resolve itself into these questions. | 
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