THE STARCH FACTORY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2077, 25 August 1885, Page 2

THE STARCH FACTORY.

An adjourned meeting of settlera interested in the erection of a Starch Factory was held at Greytown on Saturday evening, Mr Cuff occupying the chair. Mr Coleman Phillips spoke at aorne length in favor of the proposal, and and calculated that 15,000 tons of potatoes could be used in the factory, and that 11,000 tons might in addition be absorbed in the manufacture of glucose, The factory could afford to pay 60s'per ton for potatoes, which should pay admirably. Mr Hall sen. calculated that a factory could be established for £2OO, but that it would lose on every ton if worked or Mr Phillips' system.

Mr Buchanan, M.H.R., said they should not go into a thing of that kind without having the fullest information before them. A member of Parliament who was well acquainted with such matters had told him that the thing could not be touched with potatoes above 30s per ton, He asked, could the Wairarapa Bupply potatoes at that price? Experience had taught him that it either could not or would not, for he had paid as much as £lO per ton for Canterbury potatoes; and the average was probably not below £3 10s. If starch factories paid, why had the Canterbury people not taken the matter up ? He had found beef, mutton and wool more profitable than potatoes and wheat. From Mr Phillips' remarks they could come to no other conclusion than that the farmers of the Wairarapa had, for a numbor of years, been so blind to their own interests, or so, unintelligent, as not to seo the advantage of growing potatoes, If that was not. the text of the argument, it was worth nothing. Mr Wood thought they had been too well off in the past, and too negligent in consequence, fo study their own ,interests It was undoubtedly a disgrace that many, productions that should be grown in tho district had to be imported.' Growers asked Bucli a price for potatoes that they had to be imported from Canterbury. It was resolved, on the suggestion of the Chairman, that the meeting be adjourned sine die, it being considered advisable to await the arrival of full information from America, the Government being in the meantime asked to extend the time during which a bonus would be granted for twelve months.