722 Joiinial of Agriculline, Victoria. [15 Dec, 1919. 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



By W. L. Williams, Manager, Beet Sugar Factory, Majfra. 

 Why the Industry Should be Developed. 



The World's Beet Sugar Industry was launched in the beginning of 

 the nineteenth century, and has made such rapid and sound progress 

 since then, that just prior to the great war it was responsible, under 

 white labour, for approximately half the world's production of sugar, 

 and for a remarkable increase in the production of cereals and in the 

 rearing of stock wlierever the industry was established. Its greatest 

 stronghold has been, and still is, in Europe. 



It was introduced to America with some trepidation, because of the 

 competition that had to be met from the many adjacent cheap labour 

 cane sugar areas and the necessity for meeting higher costs of material, 

 and the employment of a more independent and costly class of labour. 

 In spite of these difficulties the industry has developed there to such an 

 extent that it now produces about 75 per cent, of the sugar grown in the 

 United States, and its economic and decentralizing value has become so 

 evident that the Grovernment is epergetically using every reasonable 

 means to encourage its expansion. 



Its value to America, where labour and other conditions are very 

 similar to our own, is prc^bly the best index of what it might become to 

 the temperate zones of Australia if rightly encouraged and developed. 



There has been some question as to whether Australia might not 

 produce too much sugar should further factories be established, but 

 such a view makes no allowance for the progress we have every reason 

 to expect. To allay any fears, it may be of interest to mention that 

 recently much anxiety was expressed as to how a surplus of cane sugar 

 produced in 1917-18 in Queensland might be disposed of, and factory 

 extension was promptly discouraged; yet, inside of twelve months, the 

 expected surplus had resolved itself into a shortage, and we are now 

 actually importing sugar and are likely to do so for some years to come. 



For national strength and safety, and in justice to the cramped 

 European races requiring more favorable living conditions and better 

 opportunities, it appears to be a duty as well as a privilege to rapidly 

 expand our population, and thereby increase our production and eon- 

 sumption of foodstuffs, of which sugar is such a necessary and increas- 

 ingly important item. Our preserved fruits, condensed milk, and con- 

 fections are winning increased favour and demand at home and abroad, 

 and these will absorb largely increasing quantities of sugar. Further- 

 more, the world to-day is short of sugar to the extent of 3,000,000 tons 

 a year, with a growing demand, equal to at least 10 per cent, per 

 annum, as people are coming to realize that sugar, once a costly luxury, 

 is now undoubtedly a ehea]) and most effective energy-producing food. . 



Most of all, the economic advantages, due to the encouragement of 

 such counti-y industries as the beet sugar business which rapidly inten- 

 sifies all' otlier production and adds to the wealth and comfort of pro- 

 ducer, labourer, and consumer, must attract the thought and attention 

 of those who desire to develop our great resources to the best advantage. 



