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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 65

Analysis of Beetroot Pulp Refuse from Lavenham

page 17

Analysis of Beetroot Pulp Refuse from Lavenham.

Moisture 70.11
* Albuminous compounds (flesh forming matter) 2.25
Sugar 3.39
Mucilage and pectinous compounds 1.93
Digestible cellular fibre 15.13
Woody fibre (cellulose) 5.32
Mineral matter (ash) 1.87
100:00
We learn from these analytical results:—
1stThat pulp contains in round numbers 30 per cent dry feeding matter.
2ndThat an appreciable amount of sugar is retained in the pulp.
3rdThat a large proportion of the fibre is readily digestible.
4thThat beetroot pulp contains a considerable amount of albuminous or flesh forming matter.

Refuse pulp will keep for months in trenches, which are best lined with brickwork, the pulp being compressed into them by means of a rammer, and then covered with straw and a thick coat of earth. It undergoes a partial fermentation after a period of three weeks, which only tends to make it more palatable to farm stock. It is fed to cattle, sheep, &c., mixed in various proportions with bran, cut straw, wheat, chaff, meal, oil cake, or some other nutritious substance. In order to prevent long continued use from rendering it distasteful to the animals it is generally found advantageous to slightly salt it by sprinkling it with salt and water at the time of serving it.

Some of the mixtures which are considered best on the continent for the feeding of live stock are the following (the quantities are for every twenty-four hours):—
  • For fattening an ox—50lbs well pressed pulp, 12lbs of hay 3lbs oil cake.
  • For fattening a wether—8lbs pulp, ½lb hay.
  • For feeding an ewe - 2½lbs pulp, ½lb dry fodder.
  • Pigs do very well indeed when fed on pulp mixed with meal.

The proportions of these mixtures may, however, be varied for domestic animals so as to suit their exigencies.

Voluminous statistics could be added to the foregoing data given to show the extraordinary progress and results of the beet-sugar industry on the continent of Europe, but our desire being to be brief, we trust sufficient has been said to prove that Silesian beetroot can be successfully cultivated in New Zealand, and offers a legitimate field for the investment of capital and the enterprise of our settlers.

In the year 1881, when we made the first attempt to promote the above named industry, although some Hamburgh capitalists were willing to take up one-third of the capital required to establish a sugar mill in Waikato, and to send out the experts to superintend the working of the same, it was found impossible to raise the remainder of the capital. The prices of wheat, wool and meat were then so fairly remunerative to our farmers that they did not take sufficient interest in the matter to warrant a start being made.

Since then a very complete sugar refinery has been established in Auckland, and has successfully commenced operations, and two companies having been page 18 formed to utilise the valuable deposits of New Zealand sulphur and the Pacific Island guanos—the important items in sugar-beet cultivation—namely, cheap and good chemical manures are placed at once within our reach. These fact a, together with the altered prospects of ordinary farming, owing to the want of a certain market for surplus produce, and the consequently depressed state of trade in the country districts of the colony, induce us to make a second attempt to start a sugar factory. If sufficient interest is taken in the matter by our townsmen and country settlers, and if our Government will give this industry the support it deserves, by offering a substantial bonus for the first 500 tons of sugar produced from New Zealand grown beetroot, and aid a company which may be formed to promote beet-sugar manufacture, by the Assisted Emigration Act being made to apply to families of Belgians brought out to cultivate the sugar-beetroot, we feel certain that those gentlemen in Hamburgh before alluded to will again come forward and take a large share in the company. We think the Government would be quite justified in advancing money upon sufficient guarantee to help the industry at the first outset.

The present desire on the part of the Belgians to come to New Zealand is most opportune, and should be taken advantage of. The Belgians as a race are well known to be honourable, energetic, and enterprising, and their country is a rich one in itself; therefore, they would prove most valuable settlers. But in speaking of the Belgians in connection with the sugar-beet industry, it must not be supposed that we are forgetful of the large number of our own colonial youth for whom this industry would open up so wide a field for enterprise and employment, or of the family men who find it difficult to obtain employment in the country owing to the want of house-room accommodation on our settlers' farms. It is in the interest of these also that we advocate this industry, feeling sure that to a family working man the fact that his wife and children could become bread-winners with himself and be sure of settled and agreeable employment all the year round, and the fact that the amount of his family's earnings would, even at a lower wage to himself, largely exceed anything he could expect to receive at any employment which only requires his personal services, would in the long run prove to him that his best field for employment was in the country on a small homestead of from 20 to 30 acres cultivating that root for the factory in his spare hours, and working for the factory in his ordinary time.

And although the writer has come to the conclusion that to successfully start a Sugar Beet Factory in New Zealand, it will be necessary to provide sufficient capital to purchase about 3000 acres of the most suitable land for the cultivation of the beetroot, and to arrange to get a number of Belgian farmers whose life has been devoted to cultivating the plant to come out and either lease or sell to them in small farms, the land of the company, stipulating for sufficient beet to be grown by then; to ensure the factory being kept going. We are also of opinion, that in our Maori population, if the Government will only do their duty, we have the elements required to extend the industry far and wide in Waikato. The Government in assuming the control over the great extent of native territory have a charge laid upon them to teach the natives to work, and not to grow up an indolent and extravagant people. No more congenial work could be found for the Maori race, than to cultivate the beetroot, and in the winter months work in our factories making the sugar. In the Maori population also we can look for a constant customer for sugar and molasses. With this important political object in view, namely to turn the native from his present life of demoralising indolence to a desire to work, the Government will be justified in offering inducements to start sugar manufactories in the colony from beetroot or cane. The Maori population being over 40,000 in number, and by far the greatest number of these being in the Auckland Provincial District, adds another advantage in favour of Waikato as the! Pioneer Sugar Field.

page 19

In the opinion of many the labour question is the impediment to sugar-beet cultivation, and the manufacture of sugar therefrom; But in our opinion this will be found not to be the case when a practical test is made in the colony. Our details of cost of cultivation and delivering the produce of one acre of sugar-beet to the factory within the prescribed limits, including rent, is £6 12s. In America, according to Grant, the actual cost of same is £5 10s 10d, exclusive of rent. In Belgium we find the cost of the same is £6, and rent £4, or £10 per acre. In France, again, from reliable sources, it is estimated that the cost of cultivating and delivering one acre of beet roots ranges from £7 to £7 12s per acre, including rent. We all know that where labour is very cheap the tendency is to employ more hands than are absolutely necessary, but where labour is dear machinery is brought more into use, and thereby the cost of manufacture reduced. We believe that it will be found that by taking advantage of the latest improvements in labour-saving machinery the sugar manufacturer will be able with profit to himself to give the full wages at present ranging in the farming districts and therefore we feel convinced chat the only difficulty, and consequently the only barrier to a successful start being made, is the fact that our farmers have all their capital locked up in their land and stock, and therefore have not got the money to invest in the requisite machinery and plant required to start and carry on a factory for the first twelve months.

Our townsmen, again, are all so sufficiently occupied with other branches of commerce and the ready turn-over trade of manufactured goods that they do not care to withdraw their capital from their business to put it into an industry which they consider the farmers should look out for, as being more, to their advantage, or rather more in the farmers' line of business. If we are correct in our surmise, and we think we are, then it clearly becomes a national question and a proper measure for Government support, and commends itself most strongly to hon. members who represent our country districts, and at the same time deserves the careful and impartial consideration of the hon. representatives of town constituencies.

Quoting from the authentic statistics furnished by Sir Julius Vogel to both Houses of Parliament in 1876, we find the following startling benefits which the German Government received in the shape of direct revenue from excise on beetroot sugar manufactured in their country, which should convince every impartial mind that the Government should give material aid to promote and foster this certain source of future revenue for the colony.

From German statistics we ascertain that in 1840 the gross receipt of tax obtained by that Government from beetroot sugar was £6,037 4s. page 20 In 1850-51 the amount received was £220,894 13s. In 1860-61 the amount received was £1,100,776 4s, and in 1873-74 the revenue from this scource was 2.823,011 2s.

Then, as regards the German production, importation, and export of raw sugar:—
  • Germany, in 1841, produced 303,016 cwts.; she imported 1,016,490 cwts., and exported 59,281 cwts. In 1874 she produced 5,820,813 cwt., whilst she imported only 594,203 cwt., and exported 456,932 cwts.
These facts speak for themselves, and we might add others from France, Switzerland, and the other beet-sugar producing countries did we not deem the above sufficient to warrant the Government giving this industry their earnest and practical support. And therefore, in the interests of every New Zealand settler, we would urge the Government to pass an Act to enable them
1st.To exempt the New Zealand beetroot sugar industry from excise duty for a period of at least ten years.
2nd.To grant a fixed bonus for the first 500 tons of raw sugar manufactured in the North Island, and a similar bonus for the first 500 tons of raw sugar manufactured in the Middle Island, either from beet, sorghum, or other plant.
3rd.To lend upon debentures of any company formed for the purpose of manufacturing sugar from New Zealand grown beet, or other plant, a———sum proportionate to the called-up capital.
4th.To grant assisted emigration to families from the sugar beet districts of Europe, competent to undertake the necessary field cultivation and factory work, in order that our settlers may have the benefit of their experience.

If the Government will thus, or in some other such manner, give encouragement to this most important industry, we feel convinced there will be no longer any difficulty or delay in the starting of a Conn any upon co-operative principles, to promote the cultivation of Silesian Sugar Beet, and the manufacture of sugar therefrom.

To practically carry out this object, we would suggest that the company so formed secure at least 3000 acres of suitable land, to be sub-divided into small farms of about 50 acres each, or even less, and sold on easy terms to experienced family men, the only stipulation being that they must grow a certain area of beetroot each year, the association assisting them by providing suitable seeds and implements at lowest cost; these settlers to be shareholders. Although we page 21 naturally speak so strongly in favour of Waikato, from our local knowledge of the district and the experiments made in growing the beet there, we are open to conviction that the start should be made elsewhere, if it can be shown in the interests of the industry that some other district affords superior advantages. But in any case, we would recommend the start to be made within the centre of one of our settled districts, for the reason that the 3000 acres, which we consider necessary to be purchased by the company would not be sufficient of itself to supply all the raw material for the factory; but by being chosen in the midst of the settlements, the neighbouring farmers would find it to their interests to become shareholders and grow roots for the Association.

We also consider that, if practicable, the Pioneer Factory should be placed within the range of existing Cheese and Bacon Factories, as the one industry would be a valuable auxiliary to the other. If the first sugar mill can be made a success, then there will be no lack of other sites and capital to establish many more mills of the same class.

In conclusion, we have only to add that it is our belief that population is the missing link now in the chain of New Zealand's prosperity. Climate and soil we have of the best; minerals and natural ad vantages are scattered broadcast over New Zealand. But in population we are sadly deficient. Only let our population be doubled and our present national debt would appear lessened by two-thirds. To offer inducement for immigrants to come amongst us we must provide the means of profitable employment for them on arrival, and although we do not assert that this proposed industry is the only one to be thought of, we do say that it is the particular one in our mind at present which will lay the foundation-stone upon which to build other contingent industries, such as fruit-preserving, etc., to give wealth to our country settlements and consequently encourage immigration. Unless we have the population, opening up new territory or constructing new railways can only act as a stimulant of temporary effect, and therefore we think our political leaders would do well to turn their attention now to encouraging local industries and manufactures which have, through all times and countries, proved to be the cradles of national wealth, "Population and Prosperity."

William Australia Graham.

Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand,

decorative feature

Printed at the Waikato Times Office, Hamilton.

* Containing nitrogen 0.361