The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1885. A STARCH FACTORY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2068, 14 August 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1885. A STARCH FACTORY.

The advisableness of establishing a starch factory is at present engaging the serious attention of the residents of Greytown, and the opinion seems to prevail tlmt it would pay, Any new industry must, as a matter of course, always lie welcomed liy a community or district; but it would be nonsense it, in taking it up, other and more profitable sources were overlooked. We feel assured 'that a starch factory would pay well 'enough, because the requisite plant is not expensive, aid the material (potatoes) can be easily raised in considerable quantities in the district. It, is estimated that the potatoes can be delivered at the factory at L2 per ton, and that five or six tons will yield a ton of starch, which would be worth L 25, and that after deducting all expenses, there would be a margin of L2, which would make the net receipts per ton of potatoes, supposing the grower were also the manufacturer, something over L2 6s, The farmers who take an interest in the matter appear to be of opinion that L2 per ton will pay them. This statement soems to us exceedingly satisfactory in all respects but one, and that is the Starch Factory, which, there is every reason to believe, would not get many tons of the raw material, It must not be forgotten that the Wairarapa annually imports considerable quantities ot potatoes from Canterbury, for which an average price of about L 3 10 is paid. If the fanners in the neighborhood ol' Greytown can grow ii mucli larger quantity of potatoes than they do at present, they will, as a matter of course, first of all supply the demand for table use, and then send any surplus that may remain to the factory, While they can gee upwards of £3 per ton, they would not dream of selling at £2 for the sake of-keeping the factory going. The fact that a district like the Wairaiapa has to import 1 arge quantities of potatoes does not speak well for the enterprise of its farmers; yet it must Jie presumed that they are occupied in other and equally profitable pursuits. Perhaps the movement at Greytown will have the effect of inducing farmers to supply the local demand, and, if so, there may be a prospect of a starch factory being started a year or two hence. It is just probable that some of the promoters will charge us with attempting to throw cold water on the scheme. A very simple calculation will, however, prove to them that our arguments are based on simple facts, When the price of potatoes has gone down to about £2 per ton. a starch factory will be useful and profitable, but in the meantime no one would be so blind to his own interests us to sell at that late when he cap get thivty or fifty per cent more.