THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 203, 27 August 1910, Page 9

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

PRISON LABOUR SCHEME. 3y Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The scheme outlined by the Attorneyleneral for the utilisation of prison ibour in the conversion of the "waste ■urn fields of Northern Auckland into .rchards, was endorsed in the House tolight by Mr. Vernon Reed, who apiroved heartily of the proposal. Hitherf to prison labour had 'been engaged _>lantin« trees in the thermal districts, tnd, seeing that these would take 70 years to mature, and the New Zealand trees centuries to do likewise, he did lot think it very proUtable. The kauri ielda formerly carried an immense forest, tnd actual experience shewed that fruit ;rees would grow freely in the soil. This and was valued at not more than 5/ ler acre, and he was confident that it vould produce apples as well as any part if New Zealand. The Government's icheme was" to lay a Mock of 10,000 icres in fruit farms, and, as they came nto maturity, to sell these farms to .cttlers. He noticed some settlers had irotested it would reduce prices, but he lid not think it would do so, as he .bought a special trade could be opened ip with the home markets. It would irove a most important industry to New .ealand. The member for the Bay of Islands a_l_.ed that there were thousands ii acres in the North Auckland pro/ince now lying idle. Tile Minister of Agriculture had information as to the value of the paspalum grass which could be grown upon this land; t would produce buter-fat equal to: any part oi the Dominion. if the Government would only take uj the grassing of this land, they would tot able to resell it at three and four timgj the cost of grassing it. He was exceed ingly pleased the .Minister of Agriculture was about to start the regrassing anc cultivation of these lands. I