The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, FEB. 14, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2433, 14 February 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, FEB. 14, 1888.

The German farmers, who at one time cultivated cereals to a large extent, realised the fact that they were unable to compete with such Jtonuitlaole wlu*;ifc countries as the United Statu* and Canada, and, giving up the contest, turned their attention to another article that was more profitable and for j which the soil of the Faderland is peculiarly adapted. They there fore entered upon the cultivation of sugar-beets and the production of beet sugar, to what extent, we have already shown in a previous article ; or to repeat, they manufacture annually over one million tons ot sugar, of which they export about six hundred thousand ton?, the work of over fmir hundred mills. The industry has nkeu a tirm li">" in other European countries, foi France produces over half a million tons of sugar, the output of a central factory ; in Austria there are two hundred and thirty bootsugar factories, two hundred and sixty-four in Switzerland, one hundred and eighty-three in Belgium, forty-four in Holland, and a few in Sweden, Spain and Italy. So vast has been the growth of this industry, that, as we know, its influence on the sugar market of the world is very potent, and is at the present moment forming the subject of an international eon'erence with the object of regulating those unnatural or artificial facilities which give it an undue advantage over the principles of legitimate commerce. i'here is a relafcivs similarity ?>r;twi.ti\u the position of the German fanners ;j.t)d ourselves, which can be nan owed down to the difficulties tliat operate against the success of wheat growing Ji> the Waikato. New Zealand as a whole, removed by distance, and consequently heavier charges, is debarred from entering into the English markets on equal terms v/itli the wheatgrowing countries nearer than she "to the home consumers. The WaiJiuto, in ita turn, is seemingly hamli-

cappcd in any profitable pursuit of tho same agricultural ventures by the keen competition of the South Island, who actually commands our sole market. Years of disappointment and losses should induce Waikato farmers to take into their grave consideration some otli'T method of remunerative manipulation of their lands. It lias been proved practically that the soil of this district is just tho soil the sugarbeet can be grown upon to perfection, and scientifically, Mr J. A. Pond, the analyst, has declared tho same thing from the results of his chemical tests. Mr Glaus Spreckles has told the Oalifornian farmers that they will net from £10 to £lo per acre for their beets. If the Waikato farmers can realise seventy-live per cent, of that amount, we imagine they will be eminently satisfied. Tho value of tho importation of sugar into this colony is about £300,000 per annum, which is continually increasing with the population. Here, then, is a great trade thilt could be confined to home manufactures by successfully establishing tho industry iu the Waikato. Mr Spreckles, who is a man of action, is on the point of erecting the first factory in California at liis own cost, tho farmers guaranteeing to cultivato a certain area with beets every year ; and if the trade outgrows the capacity of one factory, he will ercet another. California is fortunate in possessing a capitalist like Claus Spreckles. If a man with similar enterprise and means could be found in New Zealand, or out of it, willing- to embark in this industry here, we are convinced that what is called, to use a favourite euphemism, "a big tiling" would lie before him or any company formed for the purpose. It would require about £50,000 to establish the industry on a proper basis, of which the plant and necessary fittings would absorb ,£30,000. It has been calculated that, making every allowance for local conditions and prices of raw material, beet sugar, equal to the best white crystal, can be manufactured here at a cost of twenty-seven pounds per ton, or about twopence-halfpenny per pound, at which figure the article should, we imagine, carry the home trade, at least. The farmers must study this matter out, and decide in what manner they can encourage capital to come forward to establish so great and valuable an industry. In the words of a published report we will add that " the immense impetus this industry would give to our dairy farms and the improvements to their productions, would alone recoup the necessary outlay, while its influence for good on our colony and people would beiar reaching." j