H.—23

2

or that the import duty will be continued, that persons who contemplate entering into the business, naturally suppose there will be one, whilst the producers of wine and sugar in Australia know they need not fear the contingency. Every part of the country and every class of the population in New Zealand would benefit by the beet industry. Large tracts of land would be devoted to its cultivation. The farmer and farm labourer, the artizan and town labourer, the railways and the shipping, would each in turn benefit. The refuse of the beet would be valuable for cattle-feeding, and the time is coming when there will be a demand in this country for colonial meat. Perhaps one of the largest advantages will be that, like beer, colonial sugar will gradually become cheaper than the imported article. Cheap sugar will mean other industries. For example, with cheap sugar, look at the enormous work open to New Zealand in the way of preserving fruits in tins —an industry which, in the United States, has grown to colossal proportions. It is true that as the beet sugar comes into use, the revenue from imported sugar will be less ; but you will have built up wealth in other directions from which taxes can be raised. Land cultivated and a population employed are a sufficient guarantee for revenue to enable you to look without dread upon the possible consequences of diminished receipts from an import tax on sugar. I have noticed of late such a disposition to misconstrue the motives of those who aspire to be useful, that it is perhaps necessary 1 should add that I am writing these remarks without concert with any one desiring to embark in the industry to which they refer, and with no present thought of doing so myself. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington, New Zealand. Julius Vogbl.

By Authority: Geokge Didsbt/by, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBo. Price 3d.]