Boosting Queensland

Expedition Will

Examine

N. Guinea Cane

Boosting Queensland Sugar Production

(Prom Our Brisbane Correspondent) THE Queensland Bureau of Sugar Ex periment Stations were to send an expedition of Queensland plant breeders to New Guinea within the next 12 months in search of new sugar cane varieties.

The aim of the expedition will be to collect new native varieties both of the “noble” types cultivated by the natives and wild types indigenous to New Guinea, which is the original habitat of most canes grown commercially during the last half-century.

Mir. N. J. King, director of the Bureau, feels that the sugar cane resources of New Guinea have not been fully exploited, and that some valuable breeding material would be obtained by another expedition.

Mr. King thinks that the native chew ing canes by selection over generations, are early mauring types, as the natives would re-plant the sweetest. (Editorial Note: The expedition to New Guinea is part of the Queensland plan to expand sugar production for export.

Under agreement with the UK Ministry of Food, Australia will export 600,000 tons of sugar to the UK in 1953. This is about 200.000 tons in excess of present exports. This projected increase in pro duction is regarded as a very ambitious plan but one within the scope of the Australian industry. It will mean great demands upon manpower resources, as well as upon capital for research and expansion. Everyone from the cane farmer to the agricultural Scientist will be called upon to play his part, and it will have an effect of related fertiliser and agricultural implement industries.)