BEET SUGAR AND WORK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8169, 28 April 1888, Page 5 (Supplement)

BEET SUGAR AND WORK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir,—A few weeks ago I noticed two ra three letters in your paper by a gentleman who takes* , ,i lively interest iv the growth of" sugar beets," ! and also some remarks at, a meeting b-v si>- , Valentine, M.H.R, on the came subject. Allow me to give a few reasons also why our settlers and the unemployed should act, and at once, on the suggestions given. .Before doing so copy this statement from the Toronto Monetary Times — " Last year's business of tho Nova giotia sugar refinery resulted in a, net profit of 125,000d01. Two dividends were paid; ono in August of S per cent., and one quite recently of 10 per eenfc. A balance of 39,000d0i was carried forward to profit and loss," Notice tho result, and that without Protection. Now, that factory would not havo been erected if the "blue noses" had not grown beets for them. I know what that climate is, and the disadvantages those people have to contend with, and am satisfied that for every ton they grow this country will prcfiuce two to three tons. In that country they hare about sis months of a winter such as our settlers here cannot realise the severity of, and in the littl* summer they have it is only now and then they get a sight of the sun through the dense fogs that always prevail in that latitude; besides, they have to house and winter-feed their stock, keepiughalftheproduceof their laud to doso, and ii it pays, them to grow beets we can beat them at thatand dairy farming (another line they excel in), as I consider this the best climate yet known for both industries. Aud in saying so let me jusfc add I have been in British Columbia, Oregon, California, Cape Colony, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania; Canada being home tome in my younger days. They aro all fine countries; but this carries the palm, or I would not have remained and made it my home. In writing this, I know many will ask, If what I say is correct, why are things in such a state as they are here at present ? Well, if I answer that I may offend some, but I can't help it. I am a Democrat, and cannot divest myself of tho* views of political and other questions as I saw them carried out in our American colonies. In answer, then, our Legislature governed and made laws oil the broadest basis, that "poulation ig the wealth of a nation;" to the millions of Europe's unemployed they always said, " Come on and occupy," and they went and are still going, the Government giving them 50 acres o£ land, with the right to buy 150 more at Idol per acre, after five years' residence thereon. No trade for money lenders or land sharks there. ■ They take up this laud with their own willing hands t« work it, struggling and helping one another as best they can; any grumbler is told to cleat out aud return to his potatoes and buttermilk. It is "robt hog or die" there— winter is coming ou. The same answer is giveu to croakers in Columbia and California. Consequently new arrivals soon find that they must paddle their own canoe } and had the sama policy or something like beeu carried out here, we should and would have hnd from one to two millions of healthy, wealthy, and prosperous setters here now (and I believe we would had there been a majority in the Legislature with the advanced views of the late Mr Macandrew). But, unfortunately, here we are, with a territory nearly as large as that of Great Britain and Ireland, blessed with a better climate and greater natural resources, but with a population of only 000,000, and saddled with cost of Government, civil service, and public works sufficient to meet tho wants of a population of three or four millions—tho Legislature chiefly being composed of men who individually or as shareholders in companies have acquired and hold as rabbit warrens some of the finest lands, and saddle the country with the cost of public works to enhance the values of those estates. ~ The oure for all this is in your own hand's, friends. Thoso estates should have people on them instead of rabbits. Closely attend next election to who you return to the Assembly, and see that the know-nothings are weeded out of the other branch. About a week ago I noticed the report of a meeting whose object was to try and induce the Government to give encouragement to the establishment of another whisky mill, to buy barley. Don't, my friends; they won't do it—in fact they can't without putting heavy duties on lines that might be a greater burden. But you go in for beet, and ask the Government to assist in this way—say, give them the present duty, £4.----13s 4d, on all sugar made iv the colonies, and raise the duty on all imported sugars to the old price by £9 6s 8d per ton; and I believe they will agree, as they will naturally think it may help to exterminate the rabbits. I noticed oue of our M.H.R's., in speaking to a meeting of his constituents, say that he would support or try to induce the Government tospend £50,000 or £100,000 in finding work for the unemployed; but if they instead would giv& land in small blocks to that amount or.more, same as I said is done in Canada, and tell those unemployed to paddle their own canoes, and make the samo offer woll known in the Home country, the rabbits would soon disappear. Sugar factories and dairy faotories would multiply, and freights would be found for the large steamer's to carry away, and on all hands wo would heas that, as I have said, this is the finest country under the sun. —I am, &c, W. StrrnERLAKD. ' April 24.

Beet Sugar in California.—The future of the beet sugar industry in California seems to be a promising one. A letter from San Francisco gives some facts with respect to the successful working of tho factory at Alvarado, from whicii I learn that the compauy, although labouring under tho disadvantage of a small plant, has* conducted its operations at a profit for some years past. Tho land surrounding the factory will produce 30001b of refined sugar to tho acre, and for the six seasons that the factory has beea in operation their annual production has beea 2,400,0001b of sugar. The averogo cost of tho refined sugar has beeu 5i cents perlb; but by the introduction of improved machinery, which is. now contemplated, it is expected the cost will he reduced to 4 cents per lb. The success of this factory has attracted tho attention of sugar manufacturers, and several schemes are on foot to in* crease tho number of factories. Amongst: others, Mr Spreokles proposes to establish factories for crude sugar in various parts of the State, the intention being to ship the crude product to San Francisco, and have all the refining, done in one large factory in the city.—Colonial Grocer.