10 Ji'LY, 1919.] Beet .Siifjar Industry/. 399 



the proposal for a stationary pres< juieery. l<--ntative operating costs of which 

 are estimated as follow: — 



Stationary press juicery, capacity 4S tons per day, season 104 days, with 

 13 per cent, sugar in tiie roots and extraction of 84 jier cent, of the juice — 



Beet, 8.66 tons, at 27s. 6d. . . 



Labour 



Managing engineer (IGs. Sd. ]>er day) during campaign 



Managing engineer (16s. 8d. per day) rest of year 



Supplies 



Interest, depreciation, and rejjairs 



Freight (average 100 miles), depreciation of Lags 



Fuel ( evaporation and power ) , coal at 30s. 



Total 

 Less 1.25 tons pulp, at 10s. . . 



Phis contingencies, at 7A per cent. 



(Mr. Williams challenges the basis upon which some of these calculations Avere 

 made, on the ground that tliey are lower than can be reproduced in practice.) 



Notes ox Above Estimate. 



Beet. — -This assumes one ton of sugar extracted from 8.G6 tons of roots, that 

 is, 84 per cent, extraction from beets carrying 15 per cent, sugar. Mr. Pearson's 

 experiment extracted up to 85 per cent. Avith a sugar content of 15 per cent, 

 from ordinary seed. But during his experiments lie found that whilst ordinary 

 seed produced 13.97 sugar, selected seed (Vilmorin's Improved and Heine's 

 Improved) grown alongside, produced roots averaging 16.4 per cent, and 17.1 

 per cent, respectively. He points out that by importing a small amount of such 

 improved seed annually, and growing it for seed production only, sufficient 

 high-grade seed could be obtained locally for the State's requirements, thus 

 assuring richer crops generally. It is noted that last season's crop at Maffra 

 averaged 14.45 per cent, sugar, and required 8.78 tons of roots to produce a 

 ton of crystallized sugar. 



Labour. — This estimate is based partly on work at Maffra factory and partly 

 on Mr. Pearson's experimental operations on press extraction. 



Munaging Engineer. — It would be necessary to engage this man for the whole 

 year. During non-manufacturing period he would supervise and undertake 

 repairs, propaganda, and educational work in his district. No offset has, how- 

 ever, been allowed; his work on repairs could be charged to that account. 



Interest, Depreciation, Repairs. — Mr. Williams challenges figures given as 

 being too low. It is difficult to determine wliat sliould be allowed for repairs, 

 as no press plant is in operation: but My. Pearsoii, who has worked with his 

 experimental plant, considers tlie figure is ample. Interest on working capital 

 is charged for two-thirds of the year, on the assumption that this will be 

 returned during the Aear as payment for dried juice, the Maffra factor}- simi- 

 larly recouping itself by sales of finished sugar. 



Freight and Depreciation of Bags. — Assuming bags to be suitable for trans- 

 port of dried juice, freight has been reckoned at the special rate as for beet- 

 root in the Maffra district. The dried juice being a raw product, and the 

 encouragement of tlie Ijeet industry being the object in both cases, it has been 

 assumed that the same raihvay rate would apply, viz.. Is. per ton flat rate, and 

 id. per ton per mile. The freight has been calculated at this rate for 100 miles, 

 taken as the average distance from Maffra to districts wliere juiceries might 

 be established. A suggestion tliat the farmers pay half freight was not adopted 

 for estimates. 



