SUGAR-BEET GROWING.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 221, 11 December 1897, Page 3

SUGAR-BEET GROWING.

The Colonial Sugar Refining Company has received the following report from their Chemical Inspector, who had visited New Zealand for the purpose of facts, and which we publish at the request of Mr Philson, local manager of the company at Auckland. The first and most important point which it makes clear is that there is not yet any information available which can be accepted as proof that beets of fair sugar contents can be grown in the districts in question. The records of the few and unimportant trials which have been made are imperfect in the extreme and quite inconclusive, and the Government meteorological returns do not contain any particulars concerning the dura tion and intensity of the sunshine during the growing months, nor of the atmospheric humidity, which would render possible a comparison of the climatic conditions with tho c e prevailing in other countries where beets are grown. Such a comparison is all the more necessary because of the heavy rainfall in New Zealand, and because the prevalence of cloudy or misty weather in the summer would have a marked effect in diminishing the sweetness of the roots. The Waikato district appears to offer facilities for transport of the beets, and has supplier of fuel and limestone, while the farmers seem anxious that the industry should be established, but they have been led to expect a much larger yield of beet and a higher price than could in our opiuion be obtained. These impressions are no doubt in part due to the absence of reliable information to which I have already referred, and it is at least as important for the grower before entering into contracts for the supply of beets as it is for 'anyone who thought of venturing money in the manufacture, that clear and definite figures relating to the cost of production and delivery of tho crop should be forthcoming on which estimates could be based, though the chance of success depends to an, at least, equal extent ou the quality of the roots that may be grown as on the cheap production of the crop. The assumption that sweet beets could be counted on with certainty is, we think, entirely without justification, and this point is a crucial one, because at existing prices it would be impossible to make sugar in New Zealand at a profit—even with the help of the protective duty stated in the Budget speech—unless beets of the same quality as the average of the supply of the German factories can be guaranteed at about the equivalent price, and until an authoritative statement on this point can be made it is very improbable that the hopes entertained of the establishment of a sugar factory will be fulfilled. Should those interested in the farming industry, however, seriously wish to ascertain the chances of success which the industry might have, they ought to ask the Government to -commence at once to record, with the . other meteorological data, the sunshine and humidity in the principal agricul turaldißtricts,and when the next planting season comes round we should be prepared to distribute gratuitously small quantities of selected beet seed among the farmers for the growth of trial plots according to directions given, asking only in return that a small percentage of . the beets grown be sent to us fur analysis. Such tests cannot be carried out this year, as the land should be prepared in July and August for planting in September and October, but they might be made next spring in the Waikato and at Hawke's Bay, and possibly about Wanganui, as also in Canterbury and North Otago, for it seems probable that the drier climato and longer duration of sunshine in midsummer there, might • give these latter districts a imrked advantage over any part of the North Island in regard to the growth of sweet beets. Tho impendiug destruction of the cane sugar industry in New South Wales will leave on the hands of those concerned in that trade a very large quantity of plant, much of which would be suitable for the manufacture of beet sugar, and factories could thus be equipped more cheaply than if new machinery had to be provided throughout ; even with this advantage, however, the capital required for a factory may be expected to exceed considerably per 10C0 tons of sugar capacity the cost of a similar establishment in any part of the Continent of Europe, and the wages of the manufacturing staff in New Zealand would be higher by at least 50 per cent. than those given in Germany and France, which are in their turn much higher than are paid in Austria nnd Russia.—l am, etc., Edward W. Knox, General <Manager.