Zounuk - A Szolnok Megyei Levéltár Évkönyve 1. (Szolnok, 1986)

TANULMÁNYOK - Soós László: A cukorrépa-termelők érdekvédelmének lehetősége a Szolnoki Cukorgyár RT. vonzáskörzetében / 175. o.

LÁSZLÓ SOÓS POSSIBILITIES FOR THE SAFEGUARDING OF SUGAR-BEET GROWERS' INTERESTS WITHIN THE ZONE OF THE SUGAR-WORKS CO. OF SZOLNOK (1912-1945) The fast economic development within the frames of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy influenced the Hungarian sugar-industry. Most of the sugar-works, founded around the turn of the century came into existence with the participation of the Hungarian General Bank of Credits Co. and the Hatvány Deutsch family that was in close commercial connection with it. Hence in the sugar-cartel, formed in 1897 for safeguarding the interests of this industrial branch, the leading role was played by them. In contrast to foreign practice, sugar-works in Hungary were established not by sugar-beet growers but by the representatives of industrial and bank capital. Owing to this separation of growers and owners it was the interest of the firm and not the concept of the growers that could be manifested. Attempts were made to establish a sugar-factory by the representatives of the agriculture of the County Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok in 1912, that would realize the interests of growers when they made a contract with the Hungarian Trade Bank Co. of Budapest, that did not belong to the cartel. Since the owners of the county did not possess the capital required for the establishment of the new factory, it was evident, already at the moment of the foundation, that again the wills of the bankcapital would be realized. It was also demonstrated by the fact that the bank, though having promised a 20% share, finally assigned only a share of 10% to the growers. The leaders of the county were trying to counterbalance the power of the bank capital as much as possible. Already before the foundation, they made an agreement with the bank about the participation of 5 large-producers as members in the board of directors of the new sugar-works so as to represent local interests. The concepts of the growers in the county were not realized, as this sugar factory also integrated into the given economic circumstances, and, joining the sugarcartel, it overlooked the interests of agriculture in its management of business. Similarly to other factories, it aimed at dividing the owners into different groups of interests by giving various proferences to them, and at making uniform safeguarding of growers impossible. The author examines, to what degree the interests of sugar beet growers could be manifested within the given economic circumstances in the management of the Sugar-Works Co. of Szolnok in the period 1912-1945. 194