Plans of the Kuangtung authories to develop the sugar industry in South China are attractively worded, A levy on imported sugar and the creation of a monopoly to keep out foreign sugar are two steps already adopted but the authorities' plans farther afield and are reported to include the establishment of modern refineries which are expected not only to improve the local industry. but will also bring increased revenue to the Government, As the market report on sugar in to-day's "North-China Dally News" shows, the situation is not so sound as it appears. It was believed that in view of the tremendous smuggling of sugar the Nanking Government would readjust the duties but those interested in the South China refineries are opposing Jany reduction on the plea of the necessity for protecting. the industry. The market report points out that a large proportion of lat Is Imown a "native sugar" is really adulterated foreign sugar smuggled into the country and the consequence of protection would merely safeguard smuggling to. the detriment of the legitimate business. And as it is estimated that about 40 er cent, of China's sugar imports "menace," and pointed its remarks by reference to cotton and #textile goods from nations with a" lower standard of living, which were ser-tously undermining home industry. The whole proceeding is not without precedent, for only recently the United States Government imposed higher duties on tinned tunny fish exported to. America by Japanese fishing industries, for the purpose of protecting home fishers and canners, While it was also insisted that the Japanese should not be allowed to affix the familiar blue eagle to the labels of the tins containing such fish. Indeed the "world at large seems to be alive to the threat which Japanese competition is making industries all over the, world, and while it is not likely that concert jaction—much as some interests would like it—will be taken, there is a possibility that individual action may present a combined resistance to th Japanese commercial invasion, which it'may find it very dificult to surmount.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.