THE SUGAR-BEET INDUSTRY

Te Aroha News, Volume XII, Issue 1788, 20 November 1895, Page 2

THE SUGAR-BEET INDUSTRY

OVtuk Editor.)

Sib, —Your sympathy towards the beetsugar industry encourages me to persist in my efforts to work up the doubtful points to a satisfactory conclusion. “To hasten slowly is wise,” but to miss our opportunity is not wisdom. We have gained so mudh ground already that we can, well afford to admit of argument upon the questions which' are still causing delay and hesitation in the minds of those who have to undertake the practical development of the industry. Our primary efforts were concentrated upon establishing the fact and confidence in the minds of experienced sugar manufacturers, that in Waikato- we. haye all that could be desired in the elements of climate and material in inexhaustible and special quality :to warrant capital and-science to come id our ..aid to promote our individual and collective welfare.. ' .. ' ".V'^v'V \ ’ The first experiments were not made so much in the direction of bulk* of’erop as to prove that our atmosphere, Boils, and waters were void of the greatest enemy of sugar, namely salt, and that without any special knowledge, cultivation, or manuring, the sugar-beet! would collect ?and concentrate a sufficiently high percentage _ of saccharine matter to' render sugar' manufacture a successful enterprise for our settlers. These essential points were all so fully. proved by .■the, ample tests made tenlyeara ago-, that" experts have unanimously pronounced Waikato to be the coming sugar field of Australasia. In fact," the tests proved so extraordinary that the final official report, submitted to the Ctovetnmerit, contains the following clause With respect to" the fitness of the Waikato and Central portion of the island for the growth of -sugar-beet, l am of opinion it will be difficult to find any part ‘ The report also contains the following clause :—“The immense impetus this industry would give to our dairy farmers, and the improvement to their productions Would alone recoup the outlay necessary to to 'the -’starting of ihe required-works', while its influence for good in our colony and its people would be far reaching. With this certificate of -merit recorded in,our. favour, the result of most careful' tests and investigation by those officially instructed to examine into and report upon the matter, you will, I am sure, sir, admit that my earnestness -in-the cause’ is; justifiable. What ?to < our appeared as disappointments, namely small unshapely and, scanty crops, .was to the sugar expert conclusive p/odf Of the value of oursod for the development of saccharine in the roots, and all that now remains is to ; . turn our attention to the agricultural side of the question, namely a sufficiently large crop to pay the farmer; And this side hlso. so far as experts can certify, is established, by professor Voelker,. England,-Mclvor, Australia, Taylor, Scotland, Black, New Zealand, all of .whom, froin analyses of the soils or petsofialob-, servation and inspection of the' Waikato districts have given " their '■* unqualified opinions that We have a sugar, beet root district of surpassing value. As a root growing district our practical farmers and graziers acknowledge. Waikato stands unique, and therefore, Sir, We have felt warranted in doing onr level best to promote the industry, not from philanthrpphy, or on commission, but from a firm conviction that we cannot fail to benefit by the successful issue of, our enterprise, and therefore we ask Waikato as a whole to ■ ‘Volunteer ’ to aid ‘ this cause which needs | assistance,’ for,‘the future’in ‘the distance,’ and ‘ the good ’ that ‘ they can do,’ in establishing the beetroot sugar industry. =-■ - i My letter published in Saturday’s (November 9th) issue of Waikato Times, in reply to Mr Mandeno, deals with the question of seed to be supplied by the Company. It must be manifest'to; all,’ that were we admit inexperience in the qualities and production of sugar beet root, we are safer; at the onset, in the hands of the company than in our own selection of seeds and manures, When we gain experience We shall bfr;better qble to demand onr own choice' iUthese matters. One point remains unanswered' in - my letter, namely, the question of freight. But on-this point it ha3been; suggested, by ‘ Practical’ in Waikato Times,that all who sign 1 the guarantee to grow roots reserve the right to withdraw If- freights are unreasonable.,' I estimate that freights should hot'exdeed 2a pei- ’ ton on truck or barge frpm any railway station, or river landing/ to .the mill. I have always advocated a universal{fare aifid ‘freight, for a national system, as Against the hop, gjrip, and jump system, jxm inf vogue, by our public ‘carriers, bht the farmery really" are the proper parties to" dictate terms to the railways and steamers, if they only knew their own-power and influence. . ; I enclose a printed form of the preliminary guarantee. We Are distributing these forms amongst volunteer canvassers in our portion of the district. - Cambridge sympathisers, should get yon to print similar forms for their (portions of the district, I feel convinced we shall not get such liberal .terms a, a'n as Mc-Lewenberg is now offering us. iam glad to say the amount of acreage I estimated Hamilton district to guarantee is already assured, and the reports of the'feeling towards the industry are, very satisfactory, but there seems to be a want of some trusted individual resident .in each district to be;nominated to make a business canvas." The executive pommittee of the Waikato 1 armers* Club, who are the body vested with authority in this matter, should consider this point. There are many .plus only waiting to be asked to subscribe to a fund to defray actual costs. There appears to be an objection raised against paid canvassers: it is nevei-theless a pity to-risk a good ship for the sake of a little pitch and oakum, and .I.repeat that to hasten slowly is wise but to miss our opportunity is not wisdom.—-Yours faithfully. - William A. Graham, ‘The Lodge,’ Hamilton*November 11th, 1895.

—Waikato Advocate,