FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15238, 27 March 1915, Page 10

FRUIT INDUSTRY.

GROWERS AND THE GOVERNMENT. f ' OPPOSITION AIISREPRESENTATION. ANOTHER MARE'S NEST. (SPECIAL TO "THE TRESS-) WELLINGTON, Alarch 26. The Opposition Press appears to be excelling itself just now in the matter !of misrepresentation with a view to damaging the present Government in the eyes'of the people. This morning the "New Zealand Times" came out' with a leading article regarding the appointment of Air G. li. Tacon to report and advise regarding South America as a fruit market. It asks: "What did Air Tacon know about the fruit business, anyhow?" and suggests that Air Tacon got the job because of political influence. In this matter the Opposition Press has discovered another mare's nest. , The matter originated as far back as September sth, 1913, when a deputation from the New /_caland Fruitgrowers' Conference waited upon the Prime Minister and urged that a representative should be sent to South America to collect information .with a view to placing the export of fruit from New Zealand to that country on a firm basis. Then, as far back a . October 30th, 1913, the. president of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation wrote in recommendation "of Air Tacon as a suitable liian to be sent. "From what I know of Air Tacon," he wrote, "I consider he is capable of carrying out tlie duties the position would entail, and I know of 110 more suitable person. If it is your intention to carry out the request of the fruitgrowers, 1 hope, you will give Air Tacon's application your consideration." Subsequently Air T. Y\. Kirk. Director of Orchard-;, reported that Air Tacon would make a good representative. He added that he had plenty of energy, and business ability, and was a well-known fruitgrower. The Stoke fruitgrowers, the Nelson fruitgrowers, and the Board of Agriculture recommended the appointment of 6uch an expert. Finally, on November 18th. 191-1. the Prime Minister received a letter from those interested,'.statins- as follows:— "The New Zealand fruitgrowers thank you for your reply to my executive's telegram to you of 16th inst., and I have to inform you that the Federation notes with great satisfaction that your Government has decided to accede to its request. The vice-president of the Federation (Air J. Longton) was deputed to wait upon you at Christchurch railway station on i7th inst. to inform you that the services oi* Air G. L. Tacon. of Alotueka and Sumner, were available, and that the Federation would havo confidence in the results if Mr Tacon were selected for this important mission. My executive considers it of first importance that the Commissioner should be conversant with New Zealand conditions from a growers' point of view, that he should have business experience, and that, especially, he should be one in whom the NewZealand growers would have confidence." Thus, it will be seen, that so far from Air Taconi's appointment being a political one, it was made upon the recommendation of the fruitgrowers themselves. It may bo added that Air Tacon was one of tho pioneers of the fruit-grow inn: industry, and that he has undertaken his -present important mission without salary, and upon payment of his expenses .only.