H— 21a

Sess. 11.—1897, NEW ZEALAND.

BEET-ROOT SUGAR. (REPORT FROM SELECT COMMITTEE, HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF TASMANIA, WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND APPENDIX.)

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

[SELECT COMMITTEE APPOINTED, ON FRIDAY, THE 12th JULY, 1895, TO INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT UPON THE FEASIBILITY OP ESTABLISHING THE SUGAR-BEET INDUSTRY IN TASMANIA, WITH POWER TO SEND FOR PERSONS AND PAPERS.] Members of the Committee.— -Mr. Burke, Mr. W. T. H. Brown, Mr. Bradley, Mr. W. Best, Mr. Archer, Mr. McWilliams, Mr. Yon Stieglitz (Mover). Days of Meeting .-—Thursday, 18th July, 1895; Thursday, 25th July, 1895 ; Friday, 9th August, 1895; Thursday, 15th August, 1895 ; Friday, 23rd August, 1895.

EEPOET.

Youb Committee have the honour to report to your honourable House that they have given most careful consideration to the question remitted to them. They have received and perused much valuable and documentary evidence from the most reliable sources available, and have come to the conclusion that it is feasible to establish the industry in Tasmania. They are also of opinion that the soil and climate is eminently suitable for the growth of the root to perfection. The only difficulty in establishing the industry is, in the opinion of your Committee, that of bringing the grower and the manufacturer together. As the establishing of this industry is a national one, and will be of very great benefit to the whole colony, your Committee recommend that the Government put in the supplementary estimates for 1895 the sum of £100 to be expended in procuring an expert to instruct the farmers in growing the root, and for giving rewards to those who grow areas of the crop to perfection. If this be done, your Committee are of opinion that in a short time there will be a sufficient number of farmers competent to grow the root to induce capitalists to erect a mill or mills in Tasmania. Committee-room, Friday, 23rd August, 1895. J. C. Yon Stieglitz, Chairman.

MINUTES OF PEOCEEDINGS.

No. I.—Thursday, 18th July, 1895. The Committee met at 11 a.m. Present: Mr. W. T. H. Brown, Mr. Archer, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Best, and Mr. Yon Stieghtz (Mover). Mr. Yon Stieghtz was voted to the chair. Ordered, That the Government Analyst, the Secretary Board of Agriculture, Mr. G. E. Piesse, and the Hon. William Crosby be summoned to attend and give evidence before the Committee on Thursday, the 25th July. The Committee deliberated. ~,,„ The Committee adjourned at 11.30 o'clock until 11 a.m. on Thursday, the 25th July, 1895.

No. 2.—Thubsday, 25th July, 1895. The Committee met at 11 a.m. Present: Mr. Best, Mr. Burke, Mr. Archer, Mr. Me Williams, and Mr. Yon Stieghtz (Chairman). The minutes of the last meeting were read and connrmea.