Loxgon, Feb. 6.
In the House of Lords to-day, Lord Blibank (Conservative) called atten-ition to the serious state of the [British West Indian sugar industry land pressed for the publication of the report of the West Indian Suger [Commission which recently returned {from the West Ind Foord Elibank said it was perfectly sar that sugar was not being sold to-day under free trade conditions. "The over-production of sugar, which Jexisted to-day and which was being] unloaded' upon the markets of the world, was very largely due to high protective tariffs and subsidies. Suggested that Mr. Snowden, the [Chancellor of the Exchequer, should Met remove or reduce the sugar duties this year.
Lord Olivier (Labour), who was chairman of the West Indian Com? mittee, supported Lord Blibank's feppeal. He believed that when Mr. Snowden, in July last, expressed his intention to sweep away all duties jon foodstuffs he was not fully acquainted with the situation, The Commission, he continued, had Jeome to the conclusion that in pres-fent circumstances, even with prefer-sugar industry collapse of credit and because the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer had knocked. the bottom out of the market, if anywhere preference is, with-Jdrawh without compensation," said Lord Olivier, "the whole of the West Indian Sugar industry, except so far as it produces for home consumption, will be put into the process of winding up and at the fend of 18 months it will come to fan end."
He suggested that the report of ithe Commission should be submitted the economic committee-which the JGovernment had lately set up. At present the West Indian sugar growlers were producing at a loss of £1 to 25/- a ton, If preference were withdrawn they would produce at a ess of £5 a ton, Lord Passfield, Minister for the [Dominions and the Colonies, replying for the Government, said'the fun-Jdamental cause of the present situa-jon was that production had outrun consumption. The difficulties of re-/medying the situation were insuper-Jable. When the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated his desire or inten tion to sweep away the duties on imported foodstuffs he was express gg the feelings. of all three parti
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.