EXPORTING FRUIT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1257, 12 October 1911, Page 8

EXPORTING FRUIT.

THE PROBLEM OF SEA CARRIAGE. Tho question of the sea-carriage of fruit to England was discussed at considerable length at the annual meeting of the Nelson Fruit-growers' Union, apropos tho shipment made by the Rimutaka last season. Mr. T. W. Kirk, chief of the Orchard Division of the Agricultural Department, who was present at the meeting, spoko in regard to references that had been made as to what was the ideal temperature at which to carf-y fruit. No one, ho ,said, could ascertain this. Tho conditions were so varied that it was impossible to. arrive at what had bee n termed tho ideal temperature. Tasmania maintained that the best temperature was 31, or from 33 to 35. Other States often did not know what temperature the fruit was carried at. As far as apples wsro concerned Tasmania, which dripped more than all the other States put together, kept it at lit. I,'efemii!; to a proposition that the Government should give a subsidy to the shipping companies, Mr. Kirk pointed out that this was a matter for the growers themselves to consider, and make representations' to the .Minister. Tho chairman, Mr. G. F. Hudson, said he could not see any difficulty in subsidising the chief engineer if tho fruit arrived Home in good ordeT. Other speakers wore not in favour of this step. A motion was put forward that the secretary writo to tho Agricultural Department asking that opinions be obtained from Tasmania and Victoria as to the best system of cool storage for tho sea-carriage of fruit. Mr. Kirk intimated that inquiries would bo instituted immediately.