INTERCOLONIAL FRUITGROWERS CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 107, 8 May 1896, Page 5

INTERCOLONIAL FRUITGROWERS CONFERENCE.

THURSDAYS. PROCEEDINGS. (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3J

(BY TELE<_RAFH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, .hia day. PICKING AND PACKING FRUIT.

A paper on "Handliug Fruib in Tasmania," by tbe Rev. E. H. Thompson (Tasmania) was read by Mr Campbell. The wriber dealb exhauabively with the picking and packing of fruib, and referred to the losses sustained by shippers on account of light packing, sweating, and other caueea. He did nob altogether approve of grading machinery, aa it braised the fruit. Every additional handling of fruit meanb a depreciation of 3d per caae. In Tasmania, instead of growing a large i number of varieties, growers were 'restricting themselves to a dozen varieties. TRANSIT OF FRUIT. "The Transit) of Fruit," by Mr W. E. Shoebridge (Tasmania) waa also read by Mr Campbell. Thorough ventilation of the vessel's hold was insisted upon, and general instructions in packing were given. The use of wood-wool as packing material was advised. In tho discussion the speakers expressed sectoral satisfaction with these papere. Mr Fowler (Paraparaumu) said he bad found it inadvisable to pack different varieties in one ease. He detailed his experience in pitting apples, and abated thac laeb season he was enabled to secure [ ten shillings per case for all hia applea.

Mr Beecrofb said, bhe pit Bystem was unsuitable for diabricts norbh of Wellington.

Mr Ritchie gave a ehorb description of a cool store for fruib. He recommended that the building ehould be constructed of brick*, with a space between the inner and and outer, which provided for thorough ventilation.

Mr Blackmoro briefly summarised the neceaaary conditions for cool storage of fruib.

Mr Corrie referred to an experiment in shipping apples from Tasmania, the steamer having a email engin'o on deck to exhaust the foul air. Many of the cases were damp when shipped, and he hardly expeebod the shipment would prove successful. Mr Siaaona (Chri&bchurch) intimated thab if the Governmenb were willing to take charge of an experimental ehipmen*, Canterbury groweira were willing to supply the fruit.

Mr Ritchie aaid, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, he waa almosb sure the Governmenb would be willing to undertake this, but, on previous occasions bhe quantity offered for shipment waa not sufficient to warrant the shipping companies in preparing special cool chambers.

Mr Blackmore said if it was intended to make an experimental shipment at least 2,000 cases should bo provided. Votea of thanka to the writers of the respective papera wero pasaed.

.FOREIGN OUTLKTS FOR I'RUIT. by Mr George Neilson (Victoria) was nexb read by tbat gentleman. He gave a Hat of the varieties of fruib which had been found moot suitable in Victoria for exporfe. He thought that tbe Government should make uniform grading of fruib imperative. The writer was accorded a hearty round of applause. CO OPERATIVE MARKETING. Mr A. Lorie (Teviot) followed with * paper on •* co-operation in marketing fruit.' Co-oporatlon amongst) JNow Zealand fruib growers vraa not a new thing, he aaid, bub with few exceptions these attempta bad been unsuccessful. Prior to 1890 the Toviob fru*rtgrowora were a divided body of men, and handled their fruib in a more primitive mebhod than in other parts of the colony. Ho wenb into full details of the workings of tho Teviot Aasociation. The paper wai well received, and the criticism of ib waa highly laudatory. Speaking of the marketing of fruit the writer stated that, on visiting an auction room, he had seen six Chinamen and two whites, which he considered waa an unsatisfactory state of affaire. Mr Hitchinga considered thab the only way bo ouab tbe Chinese from the fruit trade was by combination amongsb fruitgrowers.

Mr Adams disapproved of the suggestion bhab fruib should be sold by brokers, aa tbey were liable to become speculative.

Mr Gubb cxpresaed- the opinion that before iSlew Zealand could exporb fruib the codlin moth must be extinguished.

Mr Currie (Watakana) detailed his experiences of exporting fruib to England. He attributed the jaucceaa of tha.t ahipmenb to the fact thab the cases were packed in orchard. Ab the same time the shipment to London waa sold he had sold some of the same fruib in Auckland. The price obtained in England was in advance of the Auckland price, and the return has come to hand from London pearlier than from Auckland. Mr Piper said he had learned that Capo Colony had offered a good markeb tor applea. Mr Hanlon said what had almost killed the exporb trade was bhe excessive freighb, it costing 7s 6d to convey each case to London, and the reburn only averaged 8s or 8s 6d per case. CHINESE FRUITERERS. Aa to the employment of Chinese as fruiterers, he s«id that Auckland fruibgrower3 would perhaps be only too glad to exchange their retailers with Wellington. The Chinese boughb fruib aba fair price, and wore conbenb wibh small profibs ; consequently they had a good turnover. Auckland retailers, on the other hand, wanted five or six or seven hundred per cent., and fruib waa disposed of slowly. When spoken to on the subject the retailers defended themselves by averring that a larger output meanb greater exertion on their part. IMr Corrie agreed with tho abatement of a previous speaker, thab Cape Colony will be the greatest rival wibh Australasia in respect to British markets. Mr Jas. Williama, one of the Victorian delegates left by steamer last night, and Mr F. M. Bailey (Queensland), leaveß today. The Agricultural Department expecb to have the report of the proceedings of the Conference printed within a fortnight after its rising. Notices of motion were given : (1) By Mr Hutton, '* Thab the Governments of Australasia should, by legislation, prevenb the introduction, either on fruib, or trees of fruit pesta." (2) By Mr Parker, " Tbab a ballot be taken of the twelve beat varieties of applea and pears found most suitable in varioua districts." FRUIT DRYING. Mr W. S. Campbell read a paper on " The progreas ot fruib drying in South Australia," by Mr F. C. Smith. The following were the iruibs, in the order of their importance, which are dried : — Zante currants, apricots, plums, apples, peaches, pears, nectarines, and fig'a. y In the course of a lengthy discussion which ensued Mr Gubb (Porb Alberb), referring bo the facb thab the Australian delegates had disqualified his dried frnit as being liable to be worm eaten or mildewed, said the apples in question had been dried for three months, and there was no sign of decay. He had been round bhe districts of the North Island to instruct fruitgrowers in fruit drying, and had taken four boxes with him, and, ab the end of twelve months, whab wa_ lefb of the fruit had no sign of mould or of worm. Hia exhibit of evaporated apples which had

been awarded firs, prize was made from second rate apples* moth eaten, and yeb Mr Dufflow'e (Wanganui) exhibit waa first-class fruit. In Porb Alberb Diabrict laab season over forty tonß-of apples had been dried in the sun, and same which were abill on hand were sound and good. The queabion of the profitableness of fruit-drying was also fully diacuased. Mr Williama (Victoria) expressed the opinion thab ib waa nob advisable to rely \i holly on drying for a living. Mr Becrofb said that drying apples was nob profitable, and, if they could be more suitably diapoaed of, hia family, who produced 25 tons yearly of the amount dried in Porb Alberb, would nob dry any. Dried applea, he averred, were almost unsaleable ab preaenb in Auckland. Mr Piper did nob think the outlook for fruib-drying in the colony waa encouraging. Mr Corrie (Matakana) combatted bhis, and said bhab in Western Australia, where every known brand of dried fruit waa obtainable, he had found that the demand for Auckland evaporated fruit and vegetablea was considerable, and the manager of the Auckland | Evaporating Works had informed him 'that the West Australian demand was ' increaaing. A vote of thanks waa accorded the writer of the paper. Ib was decided that the discussion on the papers on " Viticulture,'' delivered last night, should be taken after the last, three ' papere on bhe programme were dealb wibh. !' M r Lorie (Teviot) gave notice of motion "That, in tho opinion of this Conference, fruib drying ia nob Bufficiently remunerative to warrant people settling on the land to derive a living from ib." Mr Williama (Victoria) expressed the opinion that thia was a notice which the Chairman should chuck into the waste paper baikeb. (Applause.) Mr Lorie said he only desired to geb a discussion on the matter, and, if poasiblo, to get the assertion negatived on authority. Further discussion waa ruled out of order. The Conference adjourned ab 10 p.m. till 10 thia morning.