THE SUGAR MONOPOLY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2652, 6 November 1909, Page 6

THE SUGAR MONOPOLY.

COLONIAL SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY

The member for Waikato, Mr. J. HGreenslade, in an interview, last week, with a “Dunedin Star” reporter said that for some time past he had been awaiting the opportunity of going into this question and bringing the matter prominently before Parliament. There are, he states, quite a number of farmers in the Waikato who have for many years past been experimenting with* sugar beat with the greatest success. Splendid results have been obtained at the Government experimental farm at Ruakura, near Hamilton. “The importance of these facts is or the greatset interest to the Dominion crenerally,” continued the member tor Naikato, “and I am convinced that we are about to develop what will in time errow into one of the Dominion s finest industries. The results achieved in the Waikato by private farmers, and at the Government experimental farm, indicate beyond all shadow of doubt that the Waikato is eminently adapted tor the growing of sugar beet, and that it will be possible to establish the industry on a verv large scale indeed in tins Dominion. The people at present consume 55,000 tons' of cane sugar per year. It means that very little is provided in the way of employment, however, onlv the refining work being done locally. This 55,000 tons costs the consumers practically a million per year. If this quantity of sugar could be grown and manufactured in the Dominion it will readily be seen what a difference it would mean to the people of New Zealand as compared with the present state of affairs.” Asked would beet sugar be as acceptable as cane sugar to the consumer, Mr. Greenslade turned up a mass ofstatistical information which lie intends presenting to Parliament on the subject. In Canada, France, Germany, and Austria, he pointed out, it is amongst the principal industries. In 1876 the world’s production of sugar totalled 6,000,000 tons of which 4,000,000 was cane sugar and 2,000,000 beet sugar. In 1896 (twenty years later) the production rose to 7,250,000 tons, of which 2,432,000 was cane sugar while the beet sugar supplied 4,733,000 tons. Last year’s world’s production reached 8,000,000 tons, of which less than one-tliird was cane sugar, the rest being beet. ‘‘Another point is this,” continued the member for Waikato. “To grow the 55,000 tons of sugar consumed per year in New Zealand it would require the utilisation of 145,000 acres of land under tlie British, four-course system of farming. The tests made at Ruakura successfully demonstrate that second-class Waikato land can produce a high-class sugar, but to produce the 55,000 tons referred to plant would be required with a capacity of 6000 tons per diem, and this would entail an expenditure of about £1,200,000, which, plus the cost of £745,000 would involve an outlay of about £2,000,000 in capital. I have good reasons for stating that there is a strong probability of a large amount of outside cajiital being introduced for the purpose of establishing the sugar beet industry on an extensive scale in the Waikato — on a scale, in fact, that will enable those interested to conjpete with the existing monopoly. In the first place, therefore, it is tlie idea of those moving in tlie matter that they should commence ou a reasonable scale and grow and manufacture for; the first two or three years sufficient to supply say from 14,000 to 15,000 tons per annum. This would require a capital cf something like £500,000.” . “And from what source would that amount’ be forthcoming?” “Well,” replied the member for Waikato; “I cannot at present divulge full particulars,- but as the result of information in my possession I am perfectly convinced that the half-million of money referred to can be obtained in the Old Country without much difficulty.” “Have matters, then, progressed to such a stage?” “Yes, even further than I have indicated. I have been quietly working at this matter for many months past, and if the Government will only give reasonable assistance, such as it outlined in the Prime Minister’s reply to Mr Poole’s question in the House to-day, I am convinced that the necessary capital will be readily forthcoming, and that the industry will be inaugurated on such a huge basis as even the father of the movement (Mr. A. Graham) has no conception of.” “Then what do you suggest the Government shcould do?” was asked. “What I think is'required to secure the establishment of the industry here,” said Mr. Greenslade, “can be summed up in a very few words. The Beetroot Sugar Act of 1908 offers :by no -means a sufficient inducement and security to establish the industry. An Act is required on similar lines to the Bill proposed in 1893. The bonus should be at the rate of £20,000 for the first 1000 tons! of sugar produced from beetroot for each of three factories, or £50,000 for the first 5000 tons of sugar produced by one factory. It is only fair, I think, that provision should also be made for no excise duty on beet sugar and its byproducts, and also exemption from duty on all such machinery required to be imported for the industry during the first five years of the currency of the Act. If "Parliament will make these concessions, and I will, the sugar beet industry in New Zealand is assured.”