John Horne Blackmore
Social Credit
Mr. BLACKMORE:
I have computed my figures on the basis of 10 tons to the acre, but may I show the minister what is being done in my constituency. As I said, an acre can produce much more than 10 tons. The average yield in Alberta for a given 12 years has ranged from 9-96 tons per acre to 14-10 tons per acre. The average for the 12 years was 12-05 tons per acre, much greater than the 10 tons per acre which I have used. Higher yields are being obtained all the time. In 1947 there were many farmers in Alberta who raised as much as 15 tons per acre on substantial acreages.
I am taking my figures from a little booklet entitled "Silver Sunshine" prepared by the beet sugar manufacturers in Alberta. I hold in my hand the spring edition for 1948. Page 32 gives the details of what Mr. W. E. Bullock of Taber has done, and I quote:
His contract now centres around the 100-aere mark and has a four year average of 16 tons per -acre.
In the light of the figures I have given to the minister, the production from this man's activities are colossal, almost inconceivable. Sixteen tons to the acre and over 100 acres to be taken care of by one man. Then Mr. Jesse H. Wilde of Welling, in my constituency, is referred to on page 28 as follows:
Since the factory began operations in 1925, he has not only been a consistent grower but has grown an average of over 100 acres of beets a year. During this time his beets have produced 72,000, 100-pound bags of sugar or enough to supply the needs of 3,600 people for the past 23 years.
That is the production of one man in the growing of sugar beets, an industry which the minister has not yet learned to appreciate. The article states further:
In 1947 from the 110 acres of beets grown, he had an average of 14-98 tons per acre.
Then Ivan Harris of Taber is referred to on page 31 as follows:
Ivan Harris has again raised the highest tonnage for the year 1947, 22-6 tons per acre on 30-5 acres. This is not an unusual occurrence for Ivan as his seven-year average is over 29 tons per acre.
If the minister would only think about what can be done, if he would only bear in mind that the new Lethbridge southeastern water conservation -project, which the minister is providing money to build, will bring 345,000 acres of land under irrigation and be rendered capable of such astounding production of food
as I have indicated by the statements concerning these men, I am sure the beet sugar industry would have his support. If this irrigation project is to be made to contribute to the national life and welfare of Canada as it can be, the minister must adopt those national policies which will render it possible for that to be accomplished.
Just think of the food and feed produced by Ivan Harris on an acre of land! Imagine one of Ivan Harris' acres producing sugar beets at the rate of twenty tons to the acre! That would mean, with 300 pounds of sugar produced per ton of sugar beets, there would be 6,000 pounds of sugar.