The Hastings Standard Published Daily. TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1896. A NEGLECTED INDUSTRY.

Hastings Standard, Issue 16, 14 May 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1896. A NEGLECTED INDUSTRY.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance. For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

There is no doubt that our farmers have yet to learn the full capabilities of the land. In the past wool was the chief production, but the decline in the price of this staple product diverted attention to other products, and the gigantic proportions of the frozen meat trade and of the diary produce trade indicate the good results that have accrued. Fruit-growing, and viticulture will no doubt expand under the stimulus of conferences, cheap railage, ivc. The soil of New Zealand is capable of producing a good deal else, and, not the least among these, sugar-beet may be named. This is an industry that is neglected, and yet we beMeve that in it will be found the ; i i?eans of profitably occupying small | area- of land. No where perhaps in i t!i- •lowy is the soil better adapted \ for the growth of sugar-beet than in

this district, and we think the time has arrived for our farmers to give the matter tlicir attention. The importance of the industry was long ago recognised, and-in 1884 the Bcet4Bugar Act was passed which promised assistance for a period of fifteen years to those willing to venture in the manufacture of beet-sugar. Two years ago the subject was warmly taken up by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and a deputation waited upon the Government and laid before them the advantages of growing beet in the colony and the production of beetsugar therefrom. The remarks of the President at the meeting of the Chamber, touching upon this subject are worth quoting and are as follow: "The beet may be profitably produced by small holders of land ; for instance the price of beet will range from 14s to 18s per ton, according to the saccharine quality of the beet. From the experiments made some time ago it was found that the best land in New Zealand produced forty to fifty tons of beet per acre; but, only taking the minimum quantity of twenty tons per acre, and the lowest price of lis per ton, it will be seen at once 1 that fifty acres of land would gross £'7o0 —a result not likely to be obtained by any other agricultural industry." The representations of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce were favourably entertained by the Government, for in the Budget Statement of 1894 there was a proposal for the payment of a bonus of £.10,000 for the production of sugar-beet. t nfortunately, the intentions of the Government were never carried out, as the Bill introduced to give effect to the proposal was numbered with the "slaughtered innocents," and the whole subject has ceased to engage public attention. We believe the Government is still favorably disposed towards the industry, and although the Act of 1881 is still available, it would be better to take fresh authority to pay a bonus, based on the latest information. What is really needed to encourage the farmers to grow the sugar beet is an assurance that their produce will iind a ready market- at a price varying with the fluctuations in the price of the manufactured article. This assurance can best- be. given by establishing a factory, and that can be done if our farmers and the mercantile community choose to work in concert. Given a Government bonus to ensure the factory against loss in its infancy, the rest becomes an easy matter. We have the soil and the climate, and we think the community is not wanting in enterprise, but some one must take the lead, and we therefore suggest that the Chamber of Commerce should interest itself in the matter. We shall be glad to give publicity to any expressions of opinion or suggestions from farmers or others.