§ 23. Mr. O'DOWDasked the Vice-President, of the Board of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, in view of the present crisis, the Department contemplate taking any steps to encourage the growing of beet for the purposes of sugar production in Ireland?
§ Mr. DUKEThe experiments as to the growing of sugar beet conducted by the Department of Agriculture in 1911, 1912, and 1913 showed that beet of good quality can be grown in Ireland. Three thousand to four thousand acres of beet in one district are required for the economical working of a sugar factory. The expenses of starting the industry on this scale are estimated at £140,000 to £150,000 at normal rates of cost. It is doubtful whether the requisite machinery and plant could be procured at the present time.
§ Mr. FLAVINSeeing that this is a very vital and important question arising out of the food shortage, could not the right hon. Gentleman see his way to make representations to the Treasury that owing to the heavy burden of taxation on Ireland, the least they might do would be to put up two or three beet factories in Ireland?
§ Mr. DUKEPerhaps the hon. Member would make those representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. FLAVINWe have been making representations for ten years and it has been no good.