SUGAR-BEET GROWING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19866, 14 June 1927, Page 8

SUGAR-BEET GROWING

DEPARTMENT HELPS EXPERIMENTAL PLOT IN CLUTHA DISTRICT [ Special “ Chronicle ” Service. ] WELLINGTON, June 13. During the past year there has been much discussion on sugar-beet growing in New Zealand but the position is still somewhat indefinite. The growing of beet for the purpose of sugar manufacture cannot begin until there is a properly equipped factory for the manufacture of sugar established in the Dominion and such a factory at present does not exist. Beet has been grown in various localities, notably Canterbury, with very satisfactory results, several districts showing themselves eminently suitable for the raising of beet and the beet proving to own good sugar content but the farmer cannot grow beet unless he has a guarantee that he can sell it at a reasonable price. At present the work is all in the direction of ascertaining whether the yield will be such as to make the establishment of a factory a reasonable prospect. Great Britain is endeavouring to develop the sugar industry by granting high protection but the tariff there Is so great that the New Zealand Government could not consider one like it. Nevertheless, without some protection or bounty the sugar beet industry could not get a footing in the Dominion sinde cane sugar is now stated to be retailing here at a price lower than that in any other white country and competition un the present basis being apparently out of the question. Up to the present the Government h&s not- been approached in the matter but the attitude of the Department of Agriculture is one of encouragrnent. To-day Mr C. Cockayne, Director of the Fields Division, stated that the latest place to manifest interest in the growing of sugar beet is the Clutha district and that, in order to help these farmers and the farming community generally, the Division had decided to lay down a number of experimental plots this season. The area will be sufficiently great to give evidence of the cost of production and, while it is not expected that any sugar will be produced from the crops, the farmers will be able to use the beets for stock feeding. The Department will thus get a line on the difficulties which farmers are likely to experience in growing beet, the price which it will be necessary for the beet to yield to give a reasonable return to the grower, and the comparative profits from beet growing and other farm produce.