RIVAL GROWERS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 151, 24 December 1934, Page 10

RIVAL GROWERS

FRUITS OF THE EARTH

AUSTRALIA AND KERIKERI

There are some Australian citrus growers who fear that Australia's potato embargo will close New Zealand's door to Australian citrus fruits long enough to establish a' citrus industry of New Zealand's own. It is in this key that a writer in an Australian paper observes: ', . ' The failure of the negotiations between the Commonwealth and New Zealand authorities in regard to the renewal of the citrus export to, the Dominion hag given rise to widespread regret among coastal growers. Apparently the hitch has occurred largely as the result of opposing viewpoints . t among Australian, producers themselves. The citrus grower claims that ■ his interests have been sacrificed for.those of the grower of potatoes, and that the Commonwealth Government must'be expected to take full responsibility.,for1, its,action. On the other hand, potato growers on tho Clarence previous/ .to the ..■■■ conference viewed;'.'' with ■ apprehension the probability of the Federal Government using the New South: Wales potato industry as a lever to implement a trade, arrangement with '.the New Zealand .Government,'' and asked the central executive of the Primary Producers' Union to oppose strenuously .any,.: interference with the existing embargo on Dominion potatoes^ ....„■>..; . ;.' . ■ _ In the meantime New Zealand is making extensivei-efforts to supply her own demand for citrus fruits. On tho opposite side of the Bay of Islands, in the extreme north, lies Kerikeri, a settlement which stands on the site of the very first land: tilled by Europeans in New/Zealand, and its very name, KcTikeril meaning" to dig, " v is a constant reAiinder of this fact. Although climatic j conditions are ideal, the development of 'the. region lay dormant for over a century, and it is only of late years that it. has been resumed. Settlers frbm overseas, who have taken up residence there during the past five years, have been mainly responsible for the renewed,progress.of the area. The location.is on- a plateau 400 ft above sea level,.and the maximum temperature varies from.; 75 to. 83 degrees, while the -, lowest recorded in winter ranges, between i2B. and 32-degrees. Frosts are rare, and on the,higher levels unknown. - The rainfall of's6< inches is evenly distributed over all the.seasons, andjthis contributes ,to the almost abnormally fast growth of a large variety of crops. - <■■'■'■, - ■ Even up to a year: ago 1,500,000 trees had. been planted, . including 26,000 oranges and lemons, , 20,000. passion vines, and 30 miles .--of shelter trees, mainly eucalypts. About 1800 acres are now occupied, an-d the township has a population of' over 180. Boads have been constructed ;to provide through communication with Auckland, 200 miles away. A recent-industry is the manufacture of pas'sioh-fruit juice,: for which purpose -a factory, costing over £4000, has beeny built. From 480 vines one grower -obtained' 11J tons of fruit, for which Ho was paid'l*d a' Ib at his gate. • -'"" ■':-. ' - V- '• '''''] ■' :'