The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1878.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 37, 16 February 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1878.

The manufacture of beet-root sugar has been for same time m prospect as an industry of New Zealand. It has never been tried here on a large scale, hut the experiments that have been made are sufficiently encouraging to invite the capitalist's most serious attention. Indeed if the Government afford sufficient protection we do not see why the manufacture of sugar from Deet should not become, almost at once, an established, lucrative industry m the colony. Perhaps the greatest draw back to this industry is the expeni siveness of the establishments required to carry it on successfully. It has been ascertained that the manufacture is not likely to pay i. well unless conducted ona large scale ; hence men of limited capital have -properly hung hack from the risk, and the large capitalist has been waiting to see if the Government would support his enterprise m some efficient and practical way. In the time of Sir Julius Yogel a scheme was set on foot by a wealthy capitalist to establish a large sugar making plant m, if we mistake not, the South Island. The condition was that the Government should grant the land requisite for growing the beet. This the Government would not assent | to, and so the scheme fell through. The question of encouraging this manufacture was brought on again m the House last Session and referred to a committee, who m due time reported m these terms : — "That, m order to afford sufficient encouragmenfc to the capitalist and manufacturer to enter upon the production of beet-root sugar m New Zealand, a guarantee should be given by the Government of freedom from any excise duty to be levied thereon for a period of ten years from the present time, and that the Customs duty should remain as at 'present on all imported sugar during the same period." The Hon. J. P. Joioe, under examination before the Committee, said — "I have had personal knowledge of the manufacture m France, m which country it is an important industry. The sugar made from beet is not supposed to be of quite such good quality as that made from the oane. It fetches about 3d per pound unrefined; but m that state it is not fit for consumption, owing to its offensive taste. The yield . of beet per acre is somewhere about 15 tons, but the farmer's object is not so much to grow large roots as it ia to grow roots rich m saccharine matter. The yield of sugar is about six or seven per centum. After the sugar is extracted the 'pulp makes excellent "cattle feed. It is often mixed with cut straw or ; chaff. Figs are also fed upon it. The ;' molasses can be used for the distillation |of spirits. The beet is usually grown !in the spring, and is biennial. It requires to be carefully cultivated. In the Southern Island it thrives best m country of a limestone formation, but would answer well any were with proper treatment, A considerable amount of labor is required for the .manufacture, of the sugar ; it is however cheap labour after sowing, being chiefly that of women and children. 1 * In reply to a telegram sent to Mr J. O. Cairns, of Onehunga, the followingwas elicited from that gentleman by the Committee t— •-" The inducement I require to go into the beet sugar industry is a freedom from excise for ten years, and guarantee for some equivalent should import duty he repealed or reduced. I would be prepared to commence oper- | atioas and manufacture sugar May 187$ or 1880. I propose to produce about 600 tons of sugar annually. The cost of plant capable of producing 1000 tons of sugar annually would be £24,000. I propose, not to grow beet njyselfj but to purchase it from farmers.

as requiring less capital. The area of land required for production of beet m sufficient quantity for manufacture of 100 tons ot sugar would be about 80 acres. The manufacturer's actual outlay at first would be about £31 per ton for fair average refined sugar. I propose to lay out m the industry a oapital of £15,000." The adoption of the suggestions contained m the Committee's report will undoubtedly be a great encouragement to this industry, and there is now a prospect of it being within a few- 'years m full operation as a staple, industry of the colony. The question naturally presents itself- — Might not this district be greatly benefitted by the introduction of a sugar - manufacturing plant ? If such an establishment will pay m the North and pay m the South it ought surely to pay here. It has already been proved that beets of excellent quality can be grown here, and grown they will be by the farmers, m unlimited quantities, if a use is provided for them. And as local industries are just now the desiderata, we have good ground for suggesting this district of Manawatu as a fitting field for the operations of a sugar factory. A person of capital and experience is the fulcrum required to set the industry m motion. But supposing that no one person be willing to take the entire responsibility of such a venture upon his own shoulders, a company might be floated by residents throughout the district, assisted by some of the Wellington speculators. Half the capital proposed to be invested by Mr Cairns would probably be ample to begin with. A good experienced manager would of course be indispensable, but as the industry has for years been profitably carried on m New South Wales and Queensland it is quite likely that efficient management might be secured without much trouble or delay. We make these suggestions, believing them to be worthy of some consideration by those who seek the advancement of the district. If upon more mature consideration the scheme proves sufficiently hopeful to be put to a practical issue, we are persuade! that the people throughout the district will give it that hearty support which they are disposed to accord to all projects calculated to increase the sum of local wealth and industry. We shall return to the subject at an early date.