376
particularly those of India and China, with bounty-fed beet sugar produced on the Continent.
Though competition is still encountered in these markets, this is due to the ordinary course of business and must be expected and dealt with as similar competition in every branch of trade, but the unfair advantage which has hitherto been experienced by competition with the State-aided product has, since the signing of the Brussels Convention, been removed.
As representatives of a community which embraces sugar refining among its industries we are in a position to highly appreciate the advantage which has accrued to British enterprise by the signing of a Convention which places all those engaged in a purely Commercial undertaking on the same footing.
This advantage we feel confident must be of even far greater moment to many British possessions where the cultivation and treating of sugar is the main industry, and on the success of which the prosperity of these portions of His Majesty's domains so greatly depends.
We would beg to urge upon your Lordship the vital importance which we feel this question involves, not only to our own Colony but to many other portions of the British Empire.
We venture therefore to express the hope that after careful consideration on the part of His Majesty's Ministers it will be decided in the interests of the Empire at large that the adhesion of the British Government to the Convention be extended for a further term of years.
*
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's obedient humble servant,
Chairman.