THE CONFECTIONERY INDUSTRY.
[TO TEE EDITOR OP THR " BELOT/I:TOR:]
Sin,—In the Census returns for 1881 and 1891 the numbers of those employed in the sugar refining and confectionery industries were stated to be:—
Sugar Refining ... Confectionery ... Males.
4,255 ... 14,303 ... Females.
122 ... 15,2:45 ... Total 4,407 29,20,8 Males.
4,632 ... 20,291 ... Females.
233 ... 34,720 Total.
4,920 20,079
We are convinced the real figures in the confectionery industry largely exceed those given, and we believe the same likely as regards sugar refining. But the relative im- portance and growth of both are without doubt approxi- mately correct. Yet to judge from their clamour one might suppose the only people interested in sugar to be the sugar refiners and sugar growers. Unlike these agitators, confec- tioners and sugar consumers generally have no organisation for carrying on a propaganda either in Parliament or in the Press; but they are not altogether unobservant of the mis- chievous agitation on foot. If every decaying industry here or in the Colonies is held entitled to financial help from the Government, our statesmen will soon find their hands full. The fallacies of the West India Committee and its allies have been again and again refuted. As touching one point of the controversy, may we beg your perusal of a portion of our chairman's speech at our annual meeting, of which we enclose a newspaper cutting P—We are, Sir, &c., CLARKE, NICKOLLS, and COOMBS, Limited.
[We have read the Report, and hold that the users' of sugar as raw material should at once take steps to bring their view of the matter before the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Government.—En. Spectator.]
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