asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he can state separately for each of the four sugar factories in respect of each of the years 1934 and 1935 (a) the total area under sugar beet; (b) the average yield per acre and the total quantity of beet delivered to the factory; (c) the average sugar content of beet delivered; (d) the average price per ton of beet and the total sum (exclusive of transport charges) paid to the producers for beet delivered; (e) the cost of delivery of beet; (f) the quantity of sugar sold and the average price per cwt. (before adding Excise duty) realised; (g) the total cost of manufacturing sugar under each heading of cost, and (h) the net sum realised for sugar pulp and other offal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar and Beet Statistics.
As the reply is lengthy and contains many figures I propose circulating it with the Official Report.
Following is the reply referred to:—
PARTICULARS RELATING TO PRODUCTION OF SUGAR AND SUGAR BEET IN 1934-35 AND 1935-36.
The following particulars have been furnished by Comhlucht Siúicre Eireann, Teo.:—
|
(a) |
||
|
Acreage Grown |
||
|
1934-35 |
1935-36 |
|
|
St. Acres |
St. Acres |
|
|
Carlow |
16,417½ |
14,924 |
|
Mallow |
9,452½ |
12,647 |
|
Thurles |
10,936 |
13,728 |
|
Tuam |
7,692 |
12,968 |
|
TOTAL |
44,498 |
54,267 |
|
(b) |
||||
|
Average Yield per Acre |
Total Quantity Delivered |
|||
|
1934-35 |
1935-36 |
1934-35 |
1935-36 |
|
|
Tons |
Tons |
Tons |
Tons |
|
|
Carlow |
10.4 |
11.11 |
170,996 |
165,861 |
|
Mallow |
11.68 |
10.15 |
110,445 |
128,354 |
|
Thurles |
10.46 |
10.31 |
114,376 |
141,267 |
|
Tuam |
11.50 |
9.85 |
88,420 |
127,692 |
|
Average and Total |
10.88 |
10.38 |
484,237 |
563,174 |
|
(c) |
||
|
Average Sugar Content |
||
|
1934-35 |
1935-36 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
|
Carlow |
17.0 |
17.3 |
|
Mallow |
17.4 |
17.0 |
|
Thurles |
16.88 |
17.5 |
|
Tuam |
16.96 |
16.8 |
|
Crop Average |
17.06 |
17.17 |
|
(d) |
||
|
Average Price of Beet per Ton |
Total Sum Paid to Growers for Beet Delivered |
|
|
1934-35 |
£113s.11d. |
£821,199 |
|
1935-36 |
£117s.6d. |
£1,055,951 |
(e)
Cost of Delivery of Beet, excluding deliveries under Private Arrangements of Growers, calculated on the Gross Tonnage before deduction of Tare:
|
Total Freight |
|
|
1934-35 |
1935-36 |
|
£ |
£ |
|
126,071 |
153,495 |
The company provides beet growers with the opportunity of entering into an agreement whereunder liability for the cost of freight is assumed by the company, such cost, in due course, being deducted from the sums payable to growers for deliveries of beet. This facility is not always availed of by beet growers, who either make private arrangements with haulage contractors or deliver the beet themselves, so that the figures furnished above cannot be said to represent the cost of freight on all the beet taken into the company's factories.
(f)
Quantities of Sugar sold, being the produce of the Manufacturing Seasons 1934/35 and 1935/36, respectively, and the Average Prices per cwt. (excluding Excise Charges):
|
Quantity |
Price |
||
|
Tons |
s. |
d. |
|
|
1934/35 |
64,893 |
25 |
5 per cwt. |
|
1935/36 (up to 31st March, 1936, inclusive) |
38,042 |
25 |
5.15,, |
I am not in a position to supply the Deputy with the information as to the cost of manufacturing sugar other than such information as is contained in the company's accounts published in accordance with Section 15 of the Sugar Manufacture Act, 1933.
The sugar pulp, under the terms of the company's contracts with growers, becomes the property of the growers, and is returned to the growers, or otherwise disposed of at their order. Molasses, which forms the only other by-product of a commercial value, is mixed with sugar pulp, and only in exceptional cases, and for the convenience of other Saorstát manufacturers, has the company disposed of molasses by sale—the quantities so disposed of being comparatively small.
It is pointed out that the company's production season does not coincide with the calendar year, and the foregoing replies have, therefore, been given by reference to the production season. The figures given at (f) above for 1934-35, relating to the quantity of sugar sold, refer to the whole of the saleable sugar produced in the season 1934-35. The figures given for 1935-36 represent the quantity of sugar, being part of the produce of the manufacturing season 1935-36, which was sold during the period from the opening of the manufacturing season (October, 1935) to the 31st March, 1936. The remainder of the sugar produced in this season is in stock, and on sale.
The prices quoted for sugar include free delivery to some 45 distributing centres in the Saorstát, and the average price for sugar produced in the season 1935-36 is influenced by the sale of cube and castor sugars produced for the first time in that season.