§ MR. LOUGHI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the cost of supervising sugar refineries in bond is borne by the owners of the refineries or by the State; if the former, what is the amount charged, and how is the money collected; and if the latter, what the estimated cost will be for the years ending the 31st March, 1904, and the 31st March, 1905.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe cost of supervising sugar refineries is borne by the Crown, but refiners are required to bear the overtime expenses of officers who attend, at their request, to control deliveries of sugar, etc., either before 6 a.m. or after 6 p.m. The estimated cost of supervision for the period from the 1st September last (when the refineries were placed under bond) till the 31st instant is £9,000, and for the year ending 31st March, 1905, £16,020.