PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1023, 22 May 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, M\Y 19, 1871. The Council remaned at 7 p.m. Bonus to Local Industry. Capt. Hussell, pursuant to notice,, moved — That Ihid Council acknowledging the neeeasitj of fostering the introductiot. cf new in* dustriea in HawkeSi Bay, will indemnify His Honor the Superintendent for the payment out of the consolidated revenue of the province as bonuses for that purpose of any sums not exceeding £SOO to any firm which nmy cure and export from Hawke's Bay the first 100 tons of meat preserved by the tinning process, and £SOO to any firm which may first produce 100 toi'.s of marketable sugar, and 3000gnlona of proof spirit maiuf .loturai from beet-root grown iu the province of Uawkes Bay. value of sheep and wool, and everything connected with the pastoral interest, few arguments would be required to show the necessity existing for the establishment of new industries among us. Our settlers had been industrious and frugal, and the difficulties in which so many of them, were involved might be fairly attributed to unavoidable circumstances rather than to any fault of their own. As matters stood at present, their pioperty was generally no heavily mortgaged that it was unlikely that any new industry of any magnitude could be attempted with unaided local capital, and that unless some encouragement in the way of a bonus were offered, the present ,-tate of thing* would continue, or become still worse. It was a truth which could not be disputed, that the soil was the original source of all wealth, and so far, in Hawke's Bay, feeding stock had been the only use to which the soil had been largely'applied The industry, then, of preserving and exporting meat would turn to account a kind of property at present very unprofitable, and render it a source of wealth. He recommended a bonus because so far as could be seep at present, there were no signs of this industry being initialed, a trifle such as the sums proposed to be given, might often have the effect of deciding a person to adopt a course about which he had been previously undecided. The, number of people who would be employed in this industry would be very large, and the benefit to the Province correspondingly great. The offered bonus might induce a company to take the matter up, and he believed that a company, conducting the business on a laro-e scale, would have a much better chance of success than private individuals. Their brand would soon becomeknown, and, if they supplied a good article, it would obtain confidence in the market much more readily than half-a-dozen different brands of private manufacturers. There were sufficient precedents in the Colony to justify the course he had proposed. 'ihe General Assembly and the Government of Otago had offered bonuses for the eatablish- ! nient of local industries, and in almost every Province rewards had been offered for the discovery of gold, lie now came to the subject of the sugar beet. He had, thro'igh the courtesy of Mr Tabuteau, Collector of Customs, been furnished with information relative to the quantity of sugar and spirit imported to Kapier. During the last quarter duty was paid on 161,000 lbs. of sugar at this port, and this was exclusive of the quantity imported which had paid duty at other ports. Lining the Ijwt year 10,440 gallons of spirits were im-

ported into Napier. The annual duty on sugar he estimated at £'15,000, and the duty ou spirits at «£ 10,000, making a total of .£25,000, which *ould be saved ifthe.se articles were manufactured on the spot. The question might be asked, whether this industry won id pay. He would show that it would not only pay, but yield handsome profits. Russell then, at great length, described the sugar beet, its history, mode of cultivation and preparation, &c] The climate and soil of this Province were admirably adapted for the cultivation of the beet. The quality of the sugar was as good as that from the cane, and the proportion of saccharine matter in the root was greater than in any other vegetable. It was occasionally as high as 18 per cent., and averaged about 10. The principal work would come just at the conclusion of the harvest, and the industry would, therefore, tend greatly to settle our agricultural population. It might be thought that it was unnecessary to offer a bonus for the production of spirit, but he would point out to the Council that in an economic point - of view itwould be a gi*eat advantage. Of the saccharine matter contained in the beet, one portion crystallised readily, another portion could not be crystallised without much trouble and expense, and the residue was quite uncrystallisable ; but all this was equally available for spirit. The profits of sugar-producing, as he had show n, were great, but he had no need to point out that the profits of distillation would be enormous. There -vvere no great difficulties in the manufacture, and small farmers would soon iin,i that the beet culture was the most profitable use to which, they could put their land. The spirit being perfectly tasteless, and in this respect superior to potato and other descriptions of spirit, it could be applied to the manufacture of any kind of wine or distilled liquor —no small advantage, as enough could be produced to supply all local requirements, and with the addition of a small portion of the genuine Mar tell, a very valuable export might soon be established. He had read cf vitriol and other injurious drugs being used to give strength to spirit, but had little faith in sncli statements so long as beet and potato spirit could be obtained so much more ieadily and cheaply. He thought 'vine-dlinkers would have little to fear *.m this account. Mr Tanneji, in seconding the motion, , said that the thanks of the Province were due to the mover, and he hoped this resolution would bear fruit, and that the ma Iter would be taken up by the small farmers in the Province. Mr Rhodes said this would be a step in the right direction - that was, if the revenue of the Province would allow of this money being given. He agreed entirely with the mover on the subject of-tinned meats, and would like a bonus to be offered for the manufacture of woolpacks. He thought the other part of the resolution rather unpractical. The small farmers alluded to, he feared, might be tempted to drink as well as manufacture the spirit; and not only that, the Reehabites would be up in arms, and we should be constantly hearing of police rail Is on private distilleries. Lieut.-Col. Lambert mh.l that he feared the proposed bonus would be in sufficient for the purpose. He wished it could be doubled. He had previously had no idea of the profitable nature of the beet industry. It threw sheepfai ming far into the sdade; and the only wonder to him was that all this had not been thought of before. If the Council was wise, they would offer a bonus for the planting of trees on the plains. They would add to the charms of the country more even than the member for Te Ante's warblers, and woul i hereafter be of great value. Mr Colenso called attention *o the fact that while the first bonus was to be at the discretion of the Superintendent, and was not to exceed ,£SOO, the second was £SOO absolutely, without any discretion of a less amount. He thought they should at least be on the game footing. He considered the meatpreserving proposition the most praeti cable, as we had everything on the spot save machinery, while there was not a single beet root of the variety required in the Province. The mover seemed to forget that if we manufactured our own

sugar and spirits we mirt lose a large proportion of our customs revenue, be .-ides consenting to have our own products taxed Many other industries equally deserved encomagement— the wha!o-fishe<T, the cultivation of hops, barley, the preparation of malt, silk culture, and so on, and if this resolution were carried we should have twentv animations for similar grants next session. With regard to the meat-preserving, another thiug must be borne in mind. If the industry flourished as was hoped and expected, the market value of the product could not remain tr.e same, and where they now got 6d they must in time be content with 2d. Mr Tiffen disagreed with the last speaker about the cost of establishing the meat-preserving industry. It would cost at least £IO,OOO. Mr Rhodes : £20,000. Mr Tiffen said that the great advantage of this industry would be the outlet it would afford for the stock. He believed, however, that the beet cultt vation could be started at much less cost. It would double our population at once, and the extra duties in other ways would make up for the loss on the two articles produced. A meat-pre serving company, too, would add laigely to the population, as it would employ at least 300 hands. He believed beet could be grown at an expense of 14s per ton, and if it paid in Germany it could be made to pay here. He would support the bonus. Capt. Russell replied. The question of funds need scarcely be raised now, for it was not likely any claim would be made for at lea-t two years a It was not his intention that the smallfarmers should drink the spirit, in fact, being always in the midst of it, they would be less likely to do so than others. Negroes on sugar plantations, it was well known, cared little for sweets. As for there being no beet in the Pi evince, he believed 100 tons could easily be obtained in four months. Air Rhodes, before the motion was put, would like to know its effect. Would it engage the Province to pay the sum proposed, or would it in any way bind another Council ? The Speaker said that unless followed up in committee of supply, it was a mere expression of opinion. Agreed to. [The remainder of this days proceedings is unavoidably held over.]