Beet Sugar Industry.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 244, 13 November 1903, Page 4

Beet Sugar Industry.

Mr Victor Von Bauer, who is inteiy ested m the sugar industry in Austria, is at present in Auckland. In the course of an interview he said :~ Nsw Zealand, from what I hay« learned, and from personal observation, possesses most favourable conditions lor the establishment of a w*t sugar factory. Experiments in h»et sugar, which I have enquired into, show that New Zealand can grow superior beet to that grown in the states of Europe. We get on an average 17 per cent, of sugar from our beet, while, the beet experimented upan in your colonv gave per cent. This, in my opinion is a very excellent result, and very encouraging. I have already spoken on the question to peopli in Auckland, who theoretically take a great interest in the, subject, but irom a practical standpoint thev show no great interest. It is, o*< course, a question which resolves itself into capital outlay. The time will come when the beet sugar industry will flourish in New Zealand, tor the present, the Colonial Sui>ur Company is able to supply the market demand, but it is not likely that the cane supply from Fiji and Australia will be a'ble to cope with the demand. Owing to the immigration to this colony the cane supply will fall far short of what will be needed. I do not think for a moment that the cane supply from. Fiji will increase proportionately with the growth and expansion of the colonies. The result will be that an enterprise for producing beet sugar would find an increasing market in the oHolonies, without touching the interest of the cane sugar industry. A subsildy from your Government, and other slight concessions, with the natural favourable condition of things here, would assure the establishment of the beet sugar industry in New Zealand."