FRUITGROWERS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19971, 4 July 1930, Page 20

FRUITGROWERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. LORD BLEDISLOE'S ADVICE. [THE PBEBB Special Service] WELLINGTON, July 3-

An optimistic note in regard to the futuro of tho fruit-growing industry in New Zealand was struck by the Gov-ernor-General when speaking at the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation Conference. His Excellency urged growers to cultivate optimism with the same zeal that they cultivated their fruit, and ho also stressed tho importance of the maintenance of a uniform standard of quality and soundness in export fruit. His Excellency said that as an old commercial fruitgrower on an extensive scale in the Old Country as well as being late chairman of tho National Fruit Research Station in England, it gave him great pleasure to open the conference and to wish its deliberations all success. He warmly congratulated New Zealand growers on having achieved this season a record fruit export of 1,334,600 cases of hard fruit, cf which 1,275,000 consisted of apples, and on having obtained for their produce, unlike many other primary producers in this country, an average price per case which should leave them an nunrflpin.ble marcrin of profit on their

capital and labour without any dram upon the national finances in implementing the Government gross guarantee of lis per case. "Pessimism, which has been denned as 'the handmaid of national decline, is somewhat prevalent throughout the 1 world to-day, and is not wholly unknown in the face of depressed commodity values among New Zealand primary producers," said Lord Bledisloe. "But I want to urge you in particular, not merely as a salutary mental and moral process, but on the basis of solid facts and reasonable anticipations, to cultivate optimism with the same zeal that you do your fruit. International competition in respect of all land products is severe, and its severity is not likely to abate in the days to come. In maintaining and developing your reputable position in tho markets of the Old Country and elsewhere you have a formidable competitor m the United States, a country in which I have studied meticulously the raising and marketing of deciduous as well as of citrus fruits, and where, in the case of the Californian Fruitgrowers' Association, is to be found the most efficient co-operative organisation of primary

producers in the world. Their canning industry also enables American, like the Australian fruitgrowers, to find an outlet for much surplus fruit, an example which economic conditions in this country may render it difficult to follow; but on the other side of the picture there are factors which should inspire New Zealand fruitgrowers with considerable confidence. The first is that the per capita consumption and demand for fruit are steadily increasing with full encouragement from the modical profession, and as the prosperity and purchasing capacity ot the world's urban population gradually return this demand will without doubt be developed substantially. The second is the ever-increasing scientific knowledge arising from research work conducted

at the Low Temperature Kesearcli citation at Cambridge University and elseI where directed, towards the accurate determination of the conditions of temperature and humidity which will enable fruit to be preserved without deterioration in chilled chambers over prolonged periods of oversea transport and warehouse storage. ; "What is imperative and it is more so to-day than ever before,'' continued his ■Rxcellencv "is to maintain a uniform standard of quality and soundness, even at the cost of some tcmporsiry in convenience or pecuniary disadvantage, which will uphold the • reputation and credit of New Zealand fruit, nnchal lenged and unchallengeable, amid its less favoured competitors on the British and other markets. , _ "I may mention that I eat as a rule two good apples when I wake every morning, but out of the whole period of three and a half months that I have spent In New Zealand (mainly at Auckland) for a fortnight only have I been provided with fruit that has not contained the characteristic tunnel from eye to core. I have been honing that on the sound commercial principle of exporting the test only and keeping the second best at home, these Dougherty—are not typical of the fruit nhiDDod to British ports. , . The president, Mr Brash, in his ro»v>rfc dealt with the excellent results the work' which is being carried out bv the Fruit Export Board, the crowth of the industry and the improvement in the handling ot marketing ' etC ' Remits.

Remits passed were:— f , SsS.f sugar in Aucldand # (perha^elsewhere) during the stone fruit season. "That the conference f oppose any {rirrease in the petrol tax. _ "That in view of the serious rue that opossums already are to orchard areas the Government be urged to mate' na further liberations in New Ze »That' the Federation be asked to nress for an amendment to the iJ ireElight Act to make the fireblight applicable to pip fruit areas only. ■"That a duty be placed upon all imported fresh, fruits, dried fruits, panned fniits, and pulp.' "That the Railway Department be approached to have the delivery area of fruit extended w cities. "That the Minister for Railways be urged to, put a . stop totheu.e ot insulated meat waggons for the car riage of fresh uncoolod truit.