418 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Dec, 1902. 
The “ total cost” of making a ton of sugar varies with the price paid for cane, and 
it will be seen from this comparative statement that the Northern mills have apparently 
taken more than the Southern to make a ton of sugar. But as the Northern mills 
paid on an average 15s. 1?d., or 4s. 43d. more than the Southern, the cost per ton of 
sugar must necessarily be greater. A comparison can only be arrived at by bringing 
them both on the same plane as far as the cost of cane at the carrier is concerned, 
when it will be found that the figures would work out—North £7 13s. 43d., and 
South £9 2s. 93d. per ton of sugar. 
Comparing the cost of a ton of sugar with that of the previous season, it will be 
seen that the Southern mills have improved to the extent of £1 8s. 13d. per ton, while 
the North has apparently increased the cost by 12s. 83d. per ton. This increase is due 
to the increased cost of cane—viz., 2s. 3d. a ton more being paid this season than the 
previous one; but for that the figures would work out to an improvement of £1 Os. 3d. 
per ton over that of the previous season. 
There is room for considerable improvement in the methods adopted of supplying 
the mill with cane. A glance at the ‘‘lost time” and its value will show how the 
irregular supplies of cane to the mill affect the cost of manufacture. This, it will be 
seen, ranges from Is. to 5s. per ton of sugar; that is to say, the sugar could have been 
cheapened to that extent. 
The average number of tons of cane taken to make a ton of sugar shows a slight 
improvement in the North—viz.,°3—and a slight increase in the South, also °3. 
This is fairly satisfactory wlien it is considered that the sucrose content of the cane 
was generally from 3 per cent. to 1 per cent. less than that of the previous season. 
Chemical data are only available from four of the mills, and, as these are not using 
a uniform system of chemical check, criticism cannot well be carried fur‘her. In 
the case of the four mills, however, it will be seen that mill losses range between 
17-95 per cent. and 24°8 per cent. of the tote sucrose taken into the mill, which 
indicates that there is room tor improvement in this direction. 
Turning to the financial results of the mills, it will be seen that considerable 
profits have been earned, and that the mills have in most instances been able to meet 
their obligations to the Treasury. 
To the 30th June, 1902, the mills have paid into the Treasury. for interest and 
redemption a sum amounting to £30,834 5s. 9d.; while from the inception of the Act 
to the same date the payments have amounted to—Interest, £66,055 ds. 6d. ; 
redemption, £23,854 3s. 1d., or a total of £89,909 8s. 7d. 
The arrears of interest and redemption stand at £65,484 10s. 2d. 
The gross profit earned by the ten mills. it will be seen, amounted to £48,383 15s. 
8d., from which £21,591 10s. 3d. is written off for depreciation, leaving a net profit of 
£26,792 5s. 5d., which is equal to 6:7 per cent. on the capital. This profit has, 
however, been mostly all absorbed in making further improvements and additions, 
The above figures show conclusively that, given fair seasons, our central mills 
would, without exception, overtake their arrears of interest and redemption, and still 
pay good prices for cane. : 
Of the arrears now due, a goodly portion could have been met this season but for 
the urgent necessity that existed of encouraging the cane-grower, who has had a rough 
time ot it for the past few years. 
Figures for the Double Peak Company, which is purely a tramway company, 
cannot well be included in these statements. The amount advanced to this company 
remains at £18,200. he arrears of interest being £3,443 3s. 7d., and redemption 
£1,161 16s. Tne last season’s operations of the company resulted in a loss of £1,673 
11s. 6d., including the amount due for interest. 
At the two Government controlled mills matters are assuming a more satisfactory 
position. A slight addition to the Morcton Tramway system and an additional supply 
of cane trucks for the Proserpine have been provided, which will improve matters at 
both these mills this season. Cane-planting hax been persistently carried on, and it 
is expected that next season the Proserpine at least will have improved considerably, 
while for the 1903 season the mil] should turn out 4,000 tons of sugar. 
