The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1884 Beet Root Sugar

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 61, 1 November 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1884 Beet Root Sugar

The Beet Root Sugar Bill, introduced by Sir Julius Yogel, and the second reading of which was passed " on the voices" in the House on Thursday last, provides that—" The Colonial Treasurer shall, out of the Consolidated Fund, pay to the person producing the same one halfpenny per pound on the first one thousand tons of sugar produced from beet-root or sorghum j grown in this colony. No. duty by j way of excise or otherwise shall be levied for fifteen years from the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-Tire, on any sugar produced in this colony from beet-root or sorghum grown in this colony whilst the present import duty of one halfpenny per pound continues ; but, if the import duty is increased, then an excise duty may be levied so long as one halfpenny per pound at least remains as the difference of duty charged on sugar imported and sugar produced in the colony from beet-root or sorghum grown in this colony. If during fifteen years after the passing of this Act the present import duty on 6ugar is removed or reduced, a sum shall be paid during such removal or reduction per pound for all sugar produced in this colony from beet-root or sorghum grown in the colony to every person producing the samo equal to the duty so removed or reduced, but never exceeding one halfpenny per pound." In supporting the motion for the second reading of the Bill, the Colonial Treasurer quoted authorities to show that as food for dairy stock the vegetable was invaluable. In view of the fact, which is gradually being forced on farmers, that stock raising is far more remunerative than wheat growing, the encouragement given by the Government to the cultivation of a plant which will lead to splendid direct and indirect profits, ought to induce agriculturalists to take this new industry in hand next season with great vigor. As there are thousands of acres of land on the Manchester Block and in the suiTOunding districts admirably suited for the growth of beet, we hope to see its cultivation started with all due speed.