SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20088, 3 May 1927, Page 5

SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY

SOUTH OTAGO'S POSSIBILITIES FARMERS’ UNION INTERESTED MINISTER TO BE INTERVIEWED. {Fbom Ocb Own Cobbespondent-) BALCLUTHA, May 2. The Clutha branch of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday night discussed the possibilities of growing sugar beet in South Qtago—a subject which had been introduced by Mr Alex. Reid, of Clifton, on the previous Saturday night at a meeting of the Clutha and Matau A. and P. Society. There was a representative gathering of farmers, many of whom did not belong to the union, showing that the matter had aroused keen interest. _ Mr John Christie presided, and briefly introduced Mr Reid. Mr Reid said that the most of them would have read the report of his remarks that had appeared in the Daily Times, and he would not inflict _ on them a repetition of what ho had said at the previous meeting. Owing to the decline in prices - for agricultural products, the farmers of tliis, and other districts, would have to find other lines of development. In brief, they needed "another string to their bow.” That there were great possibilities in the growing of beet and the manufacture of sugar from it no one could deny. The experience in Britain since the war had proved it. lie had noticed in a report of a meeting of the British Beet Sugar Growers’ Association that a prominent member of the former Labour Cabinet had stated that there was one thing the Labour Party had nevei regretted, and that was the granting of a subsidy for beet sugar growing. In New Zealand also ho thought they could claim the support of the Labour Parly if the industry were established. It was a bad economic policy for any country to import what it could grow itself, and that should appeal to all political parties. The banking returns to March 31 showed that we had gone book in our exports to the extent of £5,000,000, and our imports now exceeded our exports. Our prosperity depended on reversing the position, and he considered that the growing of sugar beet and its manufacture into sugar for the use of our own people would help considerably to create a better economic position. The speaker referred to the example of Germany in sugar beet production, and said that the subsidy now granted by the British Government to the sugar beet industry would terminate in 1933, when it was considered that the industry would bo able to stand alone. The speaker quoted figures to show that in Scotland the industry was paying both the farmer and the factory.' At Cupar Fife, in Moravshire, a company had undertaken to double the size of its already large factory if the fanners would undertake to plant 8000 acres in sugar beet. Already 6600 acres had been arranged for, and they wore canvassing to secure the balance. Ho had no doubt that in New Zealand, and particularly in South Otago, which was famous for its root crops, the industry would prove a payable one, and it was the duty of everyone to try and set it in operation. He would suggest that the Otago Expansion League and the Dunedin Chamber of Commarce should be asked to assist in bringing the matter before the Minister of Agriculture. He understood that one ol the farmers present had already grown sugar beet, and ho would bo able to say whether the crop had bean successful oi not.

Th» Chairman said there were farmers in the district who had grown sugar beet at Home before coming out here. To his mind the Stirling-Inchclutha district should prove ideal for the crop. There they had grown turnips that went 90 and more tons to the acre, and mangels almost “the size of gateposts.” Mr James Wood stated that according to an article in the New Zealand Farmer one ton of sugar beet, after the sugar content had been abstracted, was equal In food value for stock to eight tons of mangels. Several of those present thought the statement an exaggeration, knowing, as they did, the value of mangels as feed for cattle. Mr Callum Morrison, a returned soldier, who had worked at a sugar beet factory in France, which was run by the Imperial Government, said they fed the by-product to cattle, and they seemed to do well, but ho did not think a ton of the by-product could be equal to eight tons .of mangels. Mr Jensen said ho understood that in the United States it had been found that dried sugar beet pulp was the best milkproducing food it was possible to get. Mr Felix M'Guinness stated that the byproduct was almost similar to that from sugar cane, which in Queensland was mixed with molasses before being fed to the cattle. Ho had had experience of sugar beet growing and manufacturing in Maffra, Gippj land, Victoria, where’ they had land that was equal to anything in Inchclutha. In Maffra it was found that, although they could grow big beet on this rich land, they had not the required sugar content, and so the factory closed for a while. Then ho farmers turned to the hill country, and raised beet with the largest sugar content ever known in Victoria, It was possible that the ridge land of South Otago would prove suitable for beet growing, and if so. there was plenty of land at £8 and £9 an acre that could be so utilised. Plots should be sown in various parts of the district to ascertain the possibilities. Since the report of Mr Reid’s speech appeared in the Daily Times ho had spoken with farmers in (he Taieri and Milton districts and they were all enthusiastic about it. ...

Mr A. J. Bell, of Stirling, related his experience in growing sugar beet at the request of Mr Tennetlt, agricultural instructor, soma years ago. Ho treated the crop exactly as he would turnips, and grow beet to the size o! small mangels. Air Tennent considered the result very satisfactory In answer to Mr Reid, Mr Bell said ho had grown chicory that went 13 and 16 tons to the acre, and he considered ho would have no difficulty in growing beet that would average 20 tons to the acre. Mr Reid: In Morayshire, Scotland, the average is 12 tons to the acre, and the farmer makes a clear £9 an acre profit, after allowing for the cost f f production. Mr Reid added that his experience in Now Zealand hud shown him that much loss seed was required here than in Scotland for both grain and root crops, and that the resultant crop was easily twice the weight of that produced in any part of Scoland. Mr M‘Guinno;s pointed out that in both cane and sugar beet culture it was the sugar content that questions Mr M Guinness said that a much smaller factory was required for sugar beet than for sugar cane, and that if the Finegand freezing works were to be utilised, then only a pulping mill would be required In the course of the discussion Mr Reid stated that a few years ago the New Zealand Government had offered the sum of £SOOO to anyone who would produce the first 50 tons of sugar grown and manufactured in the Dominion. ■ Ho did not know if that offer was still open, but they should get into touch with the Minister of Agriculture when he visited the Dunedin Winter Show next month. Canterbury was ‘nibbling’ at the sugar beet idea. This year, however, he had noticed on a recent visit to the * Canterbury turnips were more like carrots for size, and they could not bo assured of the crops of turnips that they grew in Otago. Therefore. Otago was the province where the experiment should bo made. Thev should get the Minister interested, so that the Government hero might follow the example of the Homo Government and keep the money in the country which the Colonial Sugar Company was now disribiiting in bonuses to shareholders at the rate of £1,000.000 a year.—(Applause.) ~ , , , The following were appointed a deputation to wait on the Minister of Agriculture during Winter Show wockr—Messva A. Reid, John Christie. J. G. Weir, A A. Jenson. V. M'Guinncss.C Morrison, A. J. Bell O S. Moskw W. S. ihomson. ’X Wallace! R. A. Brewer, the president and secretary of the Balclntha Progress League, and D. R. Jack, and Alex. Renton It was further decided to invite Mr K, B. Tennent, instructor in agriculture, to lecture on the subject on the night of Saturday, May 21. ~ , . On the motion of Mr Reid the secretary was instructed to write to Lord Weir, chairman of the Anelo-Scottish Beet Sugar Company, Cupar Fife, and <i*k if tho comwould consider the e-tablishment of a branch factory in New Zealand, where no sugar was produced. Tins was agreed to, but the opinion was ; expressed by several speakers that, if tho j industry was to be established in New Zca- I land it should be controlled by New Zca- i landers themselves.