FRUIT INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 110, 10 May 1916, Page 8

FRUIT INDUSTRY

GROWERS IN CONFERENCE / The Fruitgrowers' Conference was opened at the' Town Hall to-day. Mr. T. Attwood (Warkworth) presided. The annual report (moved by Mr. R. P. Hudson, M.P., Motueka) showed that .efforts liad been made, to obtain space for experimental shipments to England, but without success for this year; but the companies promised to make : arrangements, for next season, aud also to see that ships- building were provided with suitable chambers for carrying New Zealand fruit. The effect of the war on the shipping and markets for fruit had been most unfortunate, and the.position made it "imperative that the. necessary legislation should be passed this' session to afford relief to the industry, and no stone should be left uuturned tc that end. The varieties movement was a step in the right direction. It would be of- great economic importance to determine the- right varieties to be planted in New Zealand. The alteration of . shipping routes to via Panama Canal had caused an upheaval, in the marketing of New Zealand apples in South America, and had resulted in a great quantity of such fruit being thrown on to the local market. The Government was requested to retain the present duty on fruit and requested to communicate with countries exporting fruit to New Zealand of the over-supply of the local market through fruit shjit out from the ships. In. consequence of increasing supplies New Zealand would be able to keep the local mavket well supplied without recourse to importation, therefore the duty should be ri> tamed all the year round. The itf.inisc.er for Railways had been asked to provide a through-booking scheme as early as possible. The local markets needed regulating. The possibilities of opening up trade with the Eastern States of America should be thoroughly investigated. ■ .'■

(Proceeding.)