SUGAR-BEET INDUSTRY.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 96, 18 February 1897, Page 3

SUGAR-BEET INDUSTRY.

* . Tut following is Hie report of the proceedings at Monday's meeting of the Waikato Farmers' Club re the above :-- Mr A. Swarbrick, of Hamilton, wrote as follows : Herewith I return you lit-1 of guarantors who undertook to" grow sugar-beets, and have to thank your club for so kindly placing the information at my disposal, also for the good wishes conveyed by your letter. As soon as I have any definite information I propose to lay the same before your clul', ami meantime I think 1 shall be*t serve the object we have all in view by working entirely on my own responsibility, leaving the field open to anyone elsi' to work out any other plau that may be thought desirable.

Everyone agreed that Mr Swarbrick was wot king in the right direction. Mr R. Witheford, of Hamilton, wrote, recommending Mr E. H. Barber, of Auckland, as a likely man to find capital if the sugar-beet industry could be snow n to be a paying one, for which be was thanked. Mr Charles Lewis, of Okaihau, Bay of Islands, wrote as follows :—''The different trials made with sugar-beet in Waikato, and the attempts made to get the Stuar industry established there have always interested me, and I regret, as all must do who have the prosperity of every part of New Zealand at heart, that the last trial, which at one time looked so promising, has not been crowned with success. I feel convinced that the growing of sugar-beet for the production of sugar would make Waikato one of the most prospeious districts of New Zealand. Mr A. Swarbrick's letter to you on the subject I have road with pleusure, and believe with him that the requisite skill for the production of sugar from beet and the capital necessary for the successful carrying out of the enterprise will have to be sought in those parts of the coutinent of Europe where the people have been long engaged with success in the industry. 1 have friends in Saxony and Silisia, the centre of the industry in Germany, and long engaged in the sugar business, from whom I shall be able to ascertain if skill in the manufacture of sugar and the necessary capital would be available to' introduce the industry into New Zealand, and on what terms a company would be willing to undertake the enterprise. May I request you to furnish me with any information on the subject in your possession regarding the experiments tried in the growing of beet, tons to the acre, percentage of sugar, piobablearea of land which would be guaranteed to be planted with beet, number of years for which such guarantee would be given, amount of Government bonus und conditions, and in fact any information which would show to capitalists that their entetprise would be rewarded by-pecuniary advantages, and not be likely to result in loss, which has been the fate of many companies "which have endeavoured to introduce new industries. I shall have much pleasure to inform the Waikato Farmers' Club after an answer to my letter containing all information on the subject, which I may be able to collect, has reached me what the result of my correspondence has heen. In conclusion, allow me to express the hope that one of the parties now endeavouring to get the industry established may be successful." It was resolved to furnish Mr Lewis with all the information at the Club's disposal. •The following peculiar and lenghtly telegram was received from Mr Nicolas Lewenberg, who it appears is at Whangarei :—" Re, sugar-beet industry. To yon aud all present gentlemen at the evening meeting greeting. Whereas not hiving been able to board Saturday's boat for Auckland, it is impossible now for me to attend your assembly. Mr Douglas, who I hope is present, will explain matters. I must add that I exposed my life to the clangers of sea for Waikato people, and have not only considerable loss of money but am damaged Bnd wronged in other way in connection .with entetprise. Honourability is the stjake. The Premier's policy during the last fessiou stone-walled the best negotiation for the sugar-beet industry during my stay in London,and Continent. Want of confidence to New Zealand was everywhere, •ncverthelc?s we are negotiating on the Continent. At present the welfare of New Zealand's prosperity, more especially in this case Waikato's iuture is just so dear to me as to you all present at this assembly consider. Jn your midst. Nicolas Lkwxnbkrq, Whacgarei. When the Secretary had concluded reading the telegram there were rears of laughter. Captain Bunciman then introduced Mr Johu Douglas and Capt. Harvey, and said they all knew Mr Douglas, but the other gentleman, although not known in connection with the sugar-beet scheme, was closely identified with the financial part of it. Mr Douglas said he felt in a somewhat unique position. He was there to make an explanation re the scheme propounded by Mr Lcwenberg and himself for growing sugar-beet in the Waikato, but he felt that the individual who could better explain the position, and therefore should have been present, was absent from some unaccountable cause ; however, he would lay the whole of tho facts before them as well as he was able to do. Twelve or fifteen months ago Mr Lewehberg had the offer of capital to carry on the industry if the guarantee for growing the roots was given. That was duly supplied, but in the meantime events had aueeu which delayed the matter, then the scare in South Africa altered the whole scheme, and he had letters saying the difficulty between England and Germany had put it off. Mr Lewenberg then went to Europe, and he had intercourse with the leading financial people of Loudon, Paris and Berlin. He had the promise of £1 50000 from a Paris firm, "provided the New Zetland Government would give the £50,000 bonus that was promised before he (Mr Lewenberg; sailed for England, and he said it was solely owing to the Premier not having carried out the promise he made to the French Consul, Viscount D'Abbans, that the bonus should be put upon the statutes last session that the negotiations failed. The promise had been given in a letter to Viscount D'Abbans, and when it was not carried out it gave the financiers a severe shock. While the New Zealand Government had been dallying with the natter Victoria had granted two bonuses of £50,000 each to encourage the industry. They had received letters and telegrams from the French company saying they were still willing to put up the machinery if the Government would give the bonus, and Mr Thos. Russell, the consular agent in Auckland, had been communicated with asking if the farmer's guarantee remained good, and if there was any probability of the bonus being given. In the meantime the Germans had raircd their export duties | to protect their trade, so the diflicu ties were somewhat increased. Hew?s perfectly eertain, whether the scheme weut ahead or not at the present, it was bound to come, and it would be the thing that would raise the Waikato. He had had many talks with the H on. Mr Cadmati on the matter, and had shown him the oorrespondeno?, etc., relating to it, and he was sure Mr Cadiiian would do everything he could to carry it through. Re Mr Oiaham's scheme if m Fuoh li one could be carried out it ™ would make the farmers much more independent. He hardly thought the local bodies had given it the consideration it deserved. This sugar-beet business had cost a considerable sum of money, which had bien found by Capt. Harvey and himself, but they had not asked the fanners for any. They did not vif.b to post} as pliitaurtiropliiats, for cf

course they had expected to get something out of it, and the farmers could rest assured that the industry would be started. It might be stinted locally, provincially, or as a national industry, but come it wou'd. They had gained a large amount of experience while trying to negotiate this business successfully, and lo one would ever believe the number of ''wire pullers " that existed. The Cortinental people wanted to know all about it, and even the Home Government wanted intoruution regarding it, and of course to fight Downing-atreet was rather a large contract ; still he believed if the farmers would go into the matter loyally they won <l crry it through. He was sorry Mr Lcwenberg was not present, he (Mr Douglas) had done his utmost to persuade him to come, but be (Lcwenberg) was always too busy, and at the present time he had a big scheme on for " renovating the North." He had now told them what he knew of the matter and should be glad to answer any questions.

Captain Harvey said he hail been in the colony about eight years, and he toek great interest in local industries He was sure there was a good future for the sugar-beet industry, and as a guarantee that ho believed in it, he might say that, unfortunately, he was the individual who paid Mr Leweuberg's expenses home. To get the industry goini; they trust act at once and act strongly. They must be Hire of their grounds, have full mastery of the details, and then approach the capitalists. He suggested that a small committee of the farmers vhould be formed to attend to the matter.

Mr Wells said the two statements they had heard from Messrs Douglas and Harvey required some further explanation, and he would like to ask each of them a question. He asked Mr Douglas if the £50,000 bonus was re-enacted would that be sufficient inducement to start the industry. Mr Douglas said, yes ! The French offer of £150,000 was still good, and that amount would bo sufficient for the purpose. Mr Wells then asked Captain Harvey what he meant by details. The cost of manufacture had been left entirely to the capitalists, the farmers considering they had nothing to do with that department, but the cost of production of the raw material had been thoroughly gone into, the guarantee had been given, and as far as the farmers were concerned it appeared to him it was all plain sailing Captain Harvey said he had thought so, but from what he had hearil from the President there appeared to be a, difficulty in growing the crop. The President explained that he bad told Captain Harvey, whom he thought should be made acquainted with both sides of the question, that he had heard several say that they could not get good crops ot mangolds without transplanting, which added considerably to the labour. Mr T. W. Hicks said the industry was dead as far as the Waikato was concerned, for the difficulties were almost insurmountable.

Mr Wells said it might be dead as far as Mr Lewenberg was coucerned. but someone, else would come along and set it going. Mr Gane regretted Mr Douglas bad not come along some months ago and said they had done their best and failed. It would have been much better, for many who had given the guarantee would have cried experiments in growing beet, and would have had more laitli in the piomoters of the scheme. Mr Douglas said he had been trying to get Mr Lewenberg to visit the Waikato and explain how matters stood ever since he returned from Europe, a matter of rive months, but had failed. He had only received the complete information himself about a week ago. and fie had come up on the first opportunity. He must say he thought they bid not taken the Farmers' Club into their confidence as they should have done, but that was Mr Leweuberg's fault and not his.

Mr Hicks slid the industry was dead, hut he could assure them it was not dead by jolly long chalks. In California Mr Spreckles, a man who " knew how many beans made five" was extending his factories, if they had the Government nt their backs to give them a shove, the industry would soon be started. There was plenty of capital lying idle in Auckland, and the manufacture of sugar from beet was bound to come at an early date. Mr Tucker said the industry was dead as far as Lewenberg was concerned, but others would take it up. He had grown a quarter of an acre cf beet, and had got a fairly good crop. He sowed 51b to the acre, but that was not enough, as the birds took much of it just after it came up. Capt. Runciman said his crop was doing well and would average 20 tons to the acre, although part of it was a failure through the ground not having been properly prepared. He considered it no worse to grow than swedes, and he had no hesitation in saying the guarantee would be carried out, and it necessary he would make one to canvuss the district again. Mr Wells said the first thing they had to do was to get the bonus of £50,000 put upon the statutes. It was finally arranged to hold a special meeting of the club on Monday, March It, to which meeting Messrs Hemes and Laug, the members for the district, wi'l be invited, to discuss the best method for getting the- Government to offer a bonus of £50,000 again. Mr (lane moved a hearty vote of thanks to the gentlemen who had come to give them the information that evenirg. The motion was seconded by Capt. Runciman and supported by Mr Wells, who hoped the sta.ting of the industry would yet come through their visitors, in order that they might recoup themselves, Mr Douglas returned thanks and told the farmers of Waikato to take heart, for Professor Black, of Dunedin, who had lately been in the district, told him he believed there was no place in the world equal to the Waikato basin for growing sugar-beet.