THE SUGAR INDUSTRY SIR JOSEPH WARD INTERVIEWED

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 104, 29 October 1909, Page 3

THE SUGAR INDUSTRY SIR JOSEPH WARD INTERVIEWED

LEGISLATION TO BE INTRODUCED. ENGLISH CAPITAL BEADY. The request that the Government should enquire into the sugar industry, with a view to protecting the public was again referred to in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by the member for Auckland West. Mr. Poole said he desired to express, his appreciation of the Prime % Minister's promise to have full enquiries made into the whole matter. Some time ago, he said, Parliament thought it was conferring a great benefit on the people of the Dominion by reducing taxation on the necessaries ot" life, and giving to tne people a iree breakfast table. The abolition oi the duty on sugar was one of the decisions arrived at by Parliament, and it met with general satisfaction on every hand, giving a reduction, as it was thought, of a half-penny per lb. on the price then prevailing in 1907. Latterly some difficulty had arisen in Auckland between the Auckland Harbour Board and the Sugar Company, and as a result the company had suddenly raised the price of sugar on the consumers by 5s per ton. It would be far better, under the circumstances, if the duty was still in operation, and the increase went into revenue to provide funds for the administration of the Oldage Pension and similar helpful departments. (Hear, hear.) There were in New Zealand thousands of acres suitable for the production of sugar beet. ADDITIONAL PROFITS. Mr. A. W. Hogg said that apparently* the remission of the duty on sugar, instead of benefiting the consumer, simply meant additional profits going into the pockets of \ a few people. He strongly regretted now that something like £200,000 per year was going in this way, instead of finding its way into, the revenue of the country, where it might have been used for the construction of roads and bridges. SOME INTERESTING INTER- ~ VIEWS. The question of establishing the sugar beet industry in New Zealand has aroused a good deal of interest, and a Post representative last night obtained from members of Parliament some interesting expressions of opinion. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture, when asked what he thought of the proposal, said it was unquestionably an important question. He was oonvinced that there were many large areas in New Zealand where the cultivation of sugar beet could be successfully pursued, and thought that there were reasonable arguments in favour of the granting of a Government bonus for the assistance of the industry, but pending the supply of full information on the subject he preferred not to go extensively into any expression of opinion at present. Mr. W. F. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) said he thought there was no country in the world better fitted by soil and climate for the production of sugar beet than the Waikato. As to whether it is possible to make a success of it as an industry was another matter, but he knew that a number of gentlemen were interesting themselves at present in getting together the necessary capital to arrange a trial in the Waikato. PREMIER'S STATEMENT. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), when interviewed by a Post representative, made an interesting statement upon the subject. Asked to what extent the Government was prepared to go on the lines indicated by his reply to Mr. Pcole's question in the House, Sir Joseph stated fully what his opinion was. "I am," he said, "decidedly in favour of the sugar beet industry being established in New Zealand, and I am prepared to introduce legislation calculated to place the industry on a fair footing in this country. I am strongly opposed to allowing the whole volume of the sugat business falling into the hands of a monopoly. The duty on sugar was removed with the intention ot allowing this much-used commodity to be sup-

plied to the people as cheaply as ■possible, but< ib seems 'that the desire of Parliament has to come extent not been given full effect to. While it is natural to wish success to any firm so enterprising as the Colonial Sugar Company, there is no reason, why we should' not establish this Dominon an industry which will arouse competition, and so bring about the lowest price consistent with reasonable profits being made by the manufacturers. There are in the Waikato places well adapted -for the production of sugar beet. I introduced legislation on this same subject some years ago, and I am quite convinced that the time has now arrived' when we should do something to establish the industry in New Zealand. i I understand that a large amount of [English capital is ready to be invested, i and the time is now opportune, in my opinion, for the bringing down of legislation calculated to assist the industry being successfully established in ths country." "And when is there a likelihood of that legislation being brought down? 1 * Sir Joseph was asked. "I think provision should be made without loss of time, to enable the successful establishment of the beet susrar-growing industry," the Prime Minister replied. "It is a- subject of the greatest importance, and I see no reason why legislation should not be introduced this session. I think it is extremely likely that Parliament will be given the opportunity of dealing with the question before the session ends."