1 Noyv., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 371. 
SUGAR STATISTICS. 
Te statistics of the Queensland sugar ind ustry during the year 1897 are now 
available, and, as usual, in the month of September, we take our final glance at 
the progress or otherwise of the year which nominally closes at the end of the 
previous June. Comparing the results, as ascertained by us last January, we 
find the product of our canefields was 97,916 tons, as against the 91,300 
estimated by us. This was taken off 65,432 acres, giving an average of 1:50 
tons to the acre, as against 1°51 tons for 1896, 1:516 being the average for the 
past ten years. The total area under cane last year (omitting what was grown 
for feed) was 98,641 acres, an increase of 15,548 acres, or 18°7 per cent., as 
against an increase of only 7 per cent. in 1896. The Queensland cane crop now 
covers 26°56 per cent. of the whole cultivated area in Queensland, and 
is nearly equal in extent to maize, which occupies 109,721 acres, 
or 29°5 per cent. of the whole. Wheat, though greatly increased in 
area, still lags a bad third, with 15 per cent. as its proportion of 
Queensland agriculture. But the most remarkable feature of 1897, due to the 
generally unfavourable meteorological conditions, was the large area of cane 
alowed to stand over. In 1896 it was 27 per cent., an increase of 9 per cent. 
on the previous year, but in 1897 standover cane totalled no less than 33 per 
cent. of the whole, an enormous amount which bears eloquent testimony to the 
unsatisfactory development of the crops. The value of the sugar produced in 
1897 was less than that of the previous year. ‘Taking sugar at the basis of 88 
per cent. net titre, the refiners paid only £8 18s. 5d., as against £9 17s. in 
1896, a reduction of 18s. 7d. Consequently the value of sugar per acre was 
£13 7s. 7d., as against £14 18s. 5d. in 1896, Seeing that the average cost of 
producing a ton of sugar is over £8, equal to not less than, say, £12 10s. per 
acre, it is clear that the 1897 profits, even under the most favourable circum- 
stances, afforded little margin for extras or deficiencies. ‘The total value of the 
sugar produced of course shows a decrease, being £873,900, as against £924,097 
in 1896. The decrease is considerable, though it can be readily accounted for 
in the smaller production and the lower price obtained by the manufacturers. 
The sugar machinery imports, valued at £18,372, paid £1,436 in duty, though 
this sum does not cover the amounts paid on machinery used in sugar-mills, but 
not exclusively so, while of course there were large imports of bags, lubricants, 
tramway material, &c., which are not distinguishable from similar imports used 
in other industries. The declared value of the sugar exported from Queensland 
naturally receded with the lessened production, the figures being £681,088, 
against £863,080 in 1896, and £896,118, £886,834, and £753,983 in the three 
previous years, respectively. The destination of our sugar varies a little from 
previous years, as the following comparison will show :— 
1897. 1896. 1895. 1894. 
Tons, Tons. Tons. Tons, 
United Kingdom ... 1 Nil 51¢ b1 500 
New South Wales ... ... 23,7894 33,5882 27,7142. 48,200 
Victoria ah itt .. Bd,495 32,838} 27,7503 9,506, 
South Australia... ie 81i 2,0302 3,988 461 
Western Australia .., seh 93 545 *) "292 97 
Tasmania .., bai ee 225 465 133% 175 
New Zealand ™ PAs 7A, 6,8252 7,515 6,148} 
Other countries ...  ... 30 202 2i 214 
AMagel ho we 62,4173 7D537DaaEe 67,2054 65,1093, 
From the above it will be seen that imports direct to South Australia have 
practically ceased, due probably to the purchase by the C.S.R. Company of a 
large factory, hitherto making plantation whites for the open market. The 
number of sugar mills and refineries remained ag before—namely, 81; but the — 
value of the machinery and plant has increased by no less than £800,000, the 
figures being £2,067,867, against €1,219,672 last year. ‘This gives an average 
value of each factory of £25,000, a figure probably more nearly correct than 
