THE Bay of Plenty Times FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1912. FRUIT GROWING : A CANNERY REQUIRED.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XL, Issue 5776, 1 March 1912, Page 4

THE Bay of Plenty Times FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1912. FRUIT GROWING : A CANNERY REQUIRED.

I FEW among the staple industries of the district are making more headway than that of fruit-growing. In riding through the country districts one notices many new plantations of fruit trees, showing that settlers hav^ confidence in the future prospects of fruit-grow-ing in this neighborhood. Apparently a large proportion of the young trees are peache?, and it is evident that in a year or two the supply will exceed the demand so far as local markets are concerned. Already the output in individual orchards runs into hundreds of cases, and in the near future growei'3 will have to turn their attention to the establishment of a canning factory. Apples and lemons, especially the latter, also grow to perfection here, and no doubt if a factory were in operation lemon-curing would become one of its leading lines. A prominent official on the staff of the Agricultural Department has given it as his opinion that there is no reason why with careful handling, curing and storing the locally-grown product fhould not compete successfully with the imported Mediterranean lemon and eventually supply the New Zealand markets entirely. Nelson and Hawke'a Bay growers are conducting fruitgrowing on profitable line-% and the time seems opportune for Tauranga growers to make a concerted move in the direction of placing the industry here on a sound basis. Co-operaion has clone much for the dairying industry in the county. Why not apply it to fruit-grow-ing. In Central Otago it has had a beneficial effect and has been the making of that district. There are thousands of acres of land in the Tauranga district which would yield abundant crops of fruit if properly cultivated, and the canning factory is the institution that will promote the profitble working of these extensive areas. The possibilities of this locality as a wealth-producing district of fruitgrowers are enormous, and some day may dwarf the dairying returns into insignificance. The industry is yet only in its infancy, but there is a feeling amongat growers that the Government should be prepared to grant liberal financial assistance at the outset if the settlers consider that the time has arrived to have a factory erected. Certainly a canning and curing establishment would give a great impetus to fruit-growing, and those in a position to express an opinion consider that it would be a success from the start. Numerous orchardists have already proved that this district is second to none for the production of pears, apples, stone and citrus fruits. The main purpose of the scheme indicated above would be the canning and sale of choice delicacies, which would help to create wealth for the community. Good fruit is a very necessary item of diet, and there is every reason to believe that the excellent products that are now seen in local orchards would, if treated in a canning and curing factory, make as good a name among consumers as the butter that is manufactured at the local dairy factory. The present Administration has stated that it is ready and willing to hjlp the small settler. Let the local fruit-growers, therefore, go into the project without further delay and approach their Parliamentary representative and the Government with a* request* for substantial assistance to launch the industry on sound commercial lines. The undertaking is national as well as local, and in the interests of the community we hope the enterprising spirits amongst the local growers will tackle the project in real earnest. We are optimistic enough to conclude that Tauranga will some day 1

-not immeasurably far away —have a canning industry whose wares will give better satisfaction than the imported article, and will command the attention of both New Zealand and English consumers.