SUGAR BEET.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1927, Page 4

SUGAR BEET.

PROSPECTS OF INDUSTRY

WELLINGTON. June RL During the past veal' there has been nmcli discussion of sugar licet growing in New Zealand. hut the position is still .somewhat indefinite. Beet has been grown in various lucidities, notably Canterbury, with very satisfactory results, several districts shoving themselves eminently suitable for the raising of beet, and the beet itself proved to Tnvn a good sugar content, bnt the farmer cannot grow beet unless he has n. guarantee that he can sell il at a reasonable price, and the present work is all in the direction of ascertaining whether the yield will he siieh as to make the establishment of a factory a reasonable proposition. Great Britain is endeavouring to develop the sugar beet, industry by granting high .protection, hut the tariff there is so great that the New Zealand Government could not consider one like il. Nevertheless, without some protection or bounty the sugar beet industry could not get a footing in the Dominion. since cane sugar is now stated to he retailing here at a- price lower than that in any other white country, competition on the present price basis being apparently out of the question. Bp to the present the Government has not been approached on the matter, hut tin' attitude of the Depart-, meat of Agriculture is one of encouragement. To-day. -Mr A. IT. 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 fanning community gencraly, the division had decided to lay down a number of experimental plots this season. The area will he sufficiently great to give evidence of the cost of production, and, while it is not expected that any sugar will ho produced from the crops, farmers will be able to use the beets for stock feeding. Tile Department will thus got a line on the difficulties which farmers arc likely to experience in growing beet, the price of which it will bo necessary for the licet to yield to give a reasonable return to the grower and the comparative profits from beet growing and other farm produce.