SUGAR-BEET CULTURE IN WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2319, 21 May 1887, Page 3

SUGAR-BEET CULTURE IN WAIKATO.

Mr W. A. Graham has courteously handed us the following correspondence, which speaks for itself : — Parliament House, Wellington, 11th May, 1887. To W. A. Graham, Esq., Hamilton, Auckland. Sir, —I have the honour to request that yon will be good enough to inform me, with as little delay as possible, how, in your opinion, the manufactures and industries (if the colony, or any of them, say Sugar Beet, may be encouraged. Also please give me the names and addresses of any person or persons iri your neighbourhood whose evidence as experts in respect of particular industries Would, in your opinion, be of value to this committee in arriving at just conclusions.— I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, J. M. Dakoaville, Chairman Committee for Encouragement of Industries and Manufactures. Hamilton, May 18th, 1837. J. M. Dargaville, Esq., M.H.R., Chairman nf Committee for Encouragement of Industries and Manufactures, Wellington. Sir,—ln reply to your circular of the 11th May I have the honour to state, re beet root sugar industry : The. experiments already made in the growing of the beet root and analytical tests made serve to show that the root can be successfully grown and supplied to a mill at 17s per ton ; also that it will thrive in the light volcanic soils, which are to be found inland throughout the colony. Therefore, the benefits to be derived by the establishment of this industry would be general, or at least available for all the provincial districts of New Zealand. Upwards of 80 tests made upon Waikatogrown beets give an average result of 12 "45 sugar. The common avoa o£ beet-root farms on the continent of Europe is from five to ten acres. Therefore this industry will be the best means for encouraging small farm settlements in the back districts. Two thousand acres of land would be sufficient to provide permanent homesteads for 100 families, and secure to them profitable employment throughout the year. The sugar and molasses imported into the colony during the quarter ending 31st March last amounted to the large sum of between 13,000,0001bs and 14,C00,0001b5. New Zealand is the only large colony which has made no attempts to supply itself with locally-grown sugar, although no country in the world is so well adapted for the beet-root sugar industry. The beet-root sugar is fast driving the cane sugar out of the markets of the world, and nothing but a return to slavery can ever restore to the cane its lost ground. An estimate of the relative cost of cultivating 400 acres of cane and 400 acres of beet-root (including interest on purchase, of land and preparation of same in first instance), wages to the cane-grower being computed at Is per diem, wages of the beet-grower being computed at 0s per diem, gives the remarkable results as follows :—

Fiji: Cost of cane, £20 7s per acrecost of beet-root (including rent £1 per acre), £10 12a per acre—exclusive of allowance for loss by hurricanes, which happen in the islands—average crop of beetß on well-cultivated lands in Europe, 26 tons per acre. The results of cane gives about 25 tons raw cane to acre; 13 tons raw cane to one ton sugar. Beet-root only takes six months to grow and harvest, leaving land free for second crop. Best cane takes two years from first planting to first cutting, then gives a crop each year for seven years. 12*45% beets will give one ton sugar to 10 tons beet-root. The residue pulp is excellent food for stock, and is the only class of root-food admissable into a butter or cheese dairy for export butter or cheese, as determined by royal commission.

- In the West Indies, one acre sugar cane necessitates 172 days human labour. The growing and harvesting one acre sugarbeets requires at "most" 4G days of human labour (partly children's), and 14 days horse labour.

To supply New Zealand with sufficient sugar for its own use would cause the yearly expenditure in labour of £400,000, and for interest on capital and rents £300,000. But, as I have beside me a sample of German beet sugar, which came 1000 miles to the place of shipment, and nevertheless is imported here, and able to compete against Fiji sugar refined in Auckland, it is time we made a start to supply ourselves. As this industry is mostly to the advantage of the peasant settlers and their families, the large land-holders, merchants, and capitalists cannot be expected to experiment or risk their capital in such a venting Therefore, to establish the beet-root sugar industry in New Zealand the Government must step forward and make it a national measure. Ist. By granting a bonus of at least Id per lb for five or ten years on New Zealand grown raw sugar, and also vote a sum of £20,000, to be expended in the purchase and erection of a German sugar mill of latest model, the mill to be considered Crown property until operations are so far successful to warrant capital coming in to take the mill over at valuation or cost price without ' interest. And considerthe whict* would

upon the successful starting of beetsugar in revenue, railway freights mid returns, yields of wheat, settlement in country districts of the very best class of settlers for this particular industry, and the impetus it will give to foreign capital to come and join in developing the industry, the moment the published official returns of the pioneer mill shewed success, would well warrant the mill being made a gift to the district which would co-operate with the Government in associating to grow a sufficient area of root, and find the necessary capital to carry 011 at full work for five years. If such support were accorded by the Government I would undertake the task (and would feel confident of success), of starting this industry in New Zealand. For sugar and jam purposes, of all kinds or classes beet sugar is the same as cane sugar. For colonising and settlement purposes beet is infinitely the superior. In support of my statement herein made, I can with confidence refer you to Professor Black and Mr J. A. Pond, Government Analytical Chemist, Auckland, and relative to the estimates of cane, to Mr Henry Eastgate, now in Auckland, but formerly of Fiji, who compiled for me thw cost of working a first-class sugar plantation' of 400 acres from his own experience in three of the best plantation districts in Fiji.

In conclusion, I beg to state my con vie tion that if once firmly established in New Zealand the beet-root sugar industry will be able to hold its own without any support froin the State, but until such is the case it must be fostered by State aid.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, William A. Graham.