ORCHARDISTS' NEEDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 60, 12 March 1937, Page 16

ORCHARDISTS' NEEDS

CENTRAL OTAGO REQUESTS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

nUNEDIN, March 11.

The Minister of Railways and Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) arrived at Dunedin this evening after a tour of Otago and Southland. The Minister received numerous deputations in Central Otago. The Clyde Fruit Growers' Association desired to have the rate on fuel oil used for frost-fighting reduced. It was advanced that the cost of oil used for frost-fighting was 434 d a gallon and the freight by rail 2-Jd a gallon, and it was suggested that if the Government would reduce the freight it would induce other orchardists to go in for systematic frost-fighting. It was also suggested that the Government procure orchardists' requisites for this purpose and supply needs in this direction on favourable terms. This would be encouragement to fruit growers and would incidentally give more traffic to the railways. It was stated that shipping freight for fruit from Lyttelton to Wellington was too high, as it had been increased 3s recetnly, and also that the accommodation on inter-island vessels for fruit carriage should be improved. The Minister was asked to go into these matters with the- shipping company.

Requests were also made for more experiments by the Government in the latest methods of frost-fighting and for a local research fruit station in the district.

In reply, the Minister said there was necessarily a limitation to what could be d'bne in the way of expenditure upon any particular service, and fair and proper balance had to be made on the share that could be expended on any of the Government services. He said that the oil they required was carried on the lowest tariff scale and that it was an unpayable rate to the Railways Department. If it were to be lowered still further, the matter became a question for the Government as a whole as to the district and national advantages which might accrue from such action. The request would be examined when he returned to Wellington when he would consult with the Minister of Agriculture on certain aspects of the matter.

Regarding the desire for a research station, Mr. Sullivan said that a service of this kind was now usually carried out in co-operation with the growers, and he instanced the district where tobacco growers were prepared to meet 50 per cent, of the cost of their research station. He suggested that the help, support, and financial backing of the fruit growers along these lines should be considered by the Fruit Growers' Association also. The Minister also undertook to look into the question of inler-island sea freight on fruit upon his return to Wellington.