LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 253, 20 July 1920, Page 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

BEET SUGAR

Sir,—ln your issue of Thursday last, appeared an article on the above subject' by an American authority in bis book "Some Aspects of tho Tariff Question." This same author was emoted by Mr. C. J. Ward at the Central Chamber of Commerce, when a resolution was tabled by mo asking for a conference to investigate the possibilities of establishing the industry in New Zealand.' Tho said authority endeavours lo make it appear that cheap Asiatic labour is necessary to perform the labour in the fields. Hecites thte disinclination of the American, farmer to what hand labour is necessary in the cultivation of the beet.

What are the facts? This crop can bo cultivated by machinery in tho same manner as mangolds, carrots, etc., and merely requires the same amount of hand labour in the field as is now given by our Dominion farmers in the growing of such crops as those cited above. Tho work is not tlife abject drudgery suggested by the American writer, but is good, healthy agricultural labour such as any industrious European can perform with credit and advantage. In weighing the pros and cons of tho possibilities of success in establishing tho industry in New Zealand, we are very little concerned as to what is done in California or Mexico. Australia affords a more useful examnlo to guide us

One single factory at Maffa in Austra> lia has for years past been turning out some thousands of tons of beet sugar annually, besides a large quantity of molasses. In addition to augmenting tho Australian supply of cane sugar, this factory has shown a ret profit of from. XBOOO to .£IO,OOO per year. Australia has no cheap' labour, nor are tho farmers there more inclined towards drudgery than the American producers. If this can be done in our neighbouring State by one factory, what could bo done in this Dominion (when probably tho yield of roots per acre would bo fully double) by, say, four to six factories established in suitable localities?

The labour necessary can bo easily made available by a progressive immigration policy, giving greater encouragement to our fellow British) kinsfolk to settle here—an urgent need for defence purposes, apart from assisting industries. Britain uses five times as much b«t sugar as cane sugar. Here wo aro entirely dependent on cane sugar imported from abroad, notwithstanding our soil and climate are quite suitable, for beet growing. Here we are entirely dependent on one supplying company, and that concern is in turn dependent on obtaining a precarious supply of Asiatic coolie labour in Fiji.

When sugar was £W per ton it was not possible to profitably establish tho industry in New Zealand, but is the position reversed now sugar sells n(; .£47 per ton wholesale, and over .£6O per ton retail That is tho question. Henco tho following resolution of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce:—

"That the Government bo asked to convene a conference of all associations and individuals likely to be interested in th"o establishment of the beot sugar industry in tho Dominion."

Investigation only is sought, and un. less a good case can bo made, it may paj us to trust to our present slender resources with regard to tn adequate sup. ply at a reasonable price—l am, etc., A LEIGH HUNT. Wellington, July 19, 1920.