SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY.

Te Aroha News, Volume XII, Issue 1792, 7 December 1895, Page 2

SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY.

MEETING AT TE AROHA. A large and representative meeting of settlers intererted in the proposed industry for the manufacture of sugar from the beet root, was held in the Public Hall on Thursday evening last. , On the motion of Mr Spooner, seconded by Mr Herries, Mr Cox was° voted to the chair.

In a few well-chosen words Mr Cox briefly explained the object of the meeting was to hear Messrs Lewenberg and Douglas on this important question, and he understood these gentlemen were prepared to answer any question that may be asked at the close of the meeting. Personally, he regretted being too far away to be able to produce the beet, as the carting would be to great an item, and he did not know whether the suggesting of utilizing the river was practical or not. He was very please to see- Mr W. A. Graham present at the meeting, he. had always-associated, tW&i'me of Mr Graham wbi-JAisquestion, no doubt Wff were indebted to that gentleman for the lively interest he had always taken in the promotion |of the Sugar Industry. (Applause). He had great pleasure in asking Mr Graham to address the meeting first. Mr Graham, said he could not help being enthusiastic on this question, in fact it was his hobby. It was with this object that he came to Waikato 25 years ago, and for 21 years he had been advocating this question. Some ten years ago his views took defiuate shape, but the project did not come to anything, the objections which had been raised at the time were just and reasonable, but now the circumstances were changed; science had made wonderful strides during the last ten years, and increased knowledge on this question made the difficulties disappear. The promoters of this enterprise are anxious to distribute the risk over a large area, principally amongst small farmers, he hoped that Te Aroha would support the present venture, as the introduction of one factory would mean many factories and he felt convinced that before long this district could easily support a factoiy itself. Upon this industry depends the future success of the Waikato. The cultivation of sugar beet will not interfere with other industries, but will help them. The dairying industry was at presentmndergoing a hard fight but it was going to ;win and tfie establishment of this industry will materially assist the dairying. - Mr Douglas on rising ' said—He represented the commercial part of this venture and it must be patent to all that the establishment, of such an industry ju the Waikato would be of great benefit, the factory would cost £150,000, while they would circulate from £50;000 to £60,000 per annum in the purchase of roots, this amount would go into the pockets of the farmer and then into aU channels of commerce. The minimum crop of roots would be abqut 15 tons per acre, but' in the official record he found that a Rev Mr Bluet, of Canterbury, stated that he had grown 40 tons per acre. Probably the aveiago crops would be about.2o tons. The company would pay £1 per ton for roots at the factory. The cost of production would be from £8 to £9 per acre, if all labourite paid for ; the cost of seed and mauure would amount to £3, and the balance labour. The company did not want large areas, what they wanted was that settlers should guarantee just as much as they- were prepared to thoughly cultivate. The Sugar Beet Industry was on the increase all over the world and wherever it had entered into competition with the cane sugar it had come out best. He hoped the Te Aroha farmers would support thd Lewenberg, who is a Russian expert, next addressed the meeting, and said it would be a credit to the Waikato to be the first district in the colony that had entered into this very profitable undertaking. Small areas of sugar beet well cultivated will yield better returns than larger areas not so well tended, the best thing in the cultivation of beet-root was that' it did not impovish but improve the soil, the saccharine matter in the roots does not come from thd soil, but the . sun. What he had seen of the land about Te Aroha it was just the soil required and very little manure would be needed. He hoped that in their own. ■interests the settlers! would takej it up heartily and they would soon become convinced that it would be profitable. Mr Lewenberg said the growing roots should be kept free from weeds, j but with the improved machinery that! was a small matter. The harvesting 1 had also been talked of as an expensive item. He had just received word from a Belgium inventor about a machine that with a man and a pair of horses will pull out and top four acres per day, the cost of snch* machine would be about £35, but two or three'would do the whole work of a district at so much per acre. The Company will supply the seed and take all roots grown from that seed. With reference to manure Mr Lewenberg said that in cases where settlers wanted, the company would supply suitable manure! at cost price. Messrs Kempthorne and 1 Prosser had offered to manufacture a special manure. Both seed and manure to be paid for when roots are delivered at the factoiy. Of oourse the Company would have inspectors to visit the farms to see they were not imposed upon. The Waikato Farmers’ Club were in correspondence with the railway authorities with a view of

getting a uniform tariff (weather far or near) of 2s per ton or 7s 6d per 5-ton truck. Mr Lewenberg said they were anxious to get all guarantees in by the 80th/ inst., so that the seed, could be ordered and tlus machinery ready for next season. Tlie total area guaranteed was 2257 acres, which withTe Aroha’s guarantee of 231 acres would make 2488 acres in all. At the close of the meeting a large number signed the guarantee forms.