A DUTY ON FRUIT.

Evening Star, Issue 7471, 15 March 1888, Page 3

A DUTY ON FRUIT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln your report of the Protectionist meeting held lost night you make me to say that I made arrangements with the Teviot growers for a supply of jam, etc. What I did say was that a local jam manufacturer gave orders for several tons of fruit for jam purposes, but could not get delivery, and that I also made arrangements for a supply, but could not get a twentieth part of my requirements. In pioof of this I took my books to tho meeting for the members’ inspection. I quoted these facts to show that tho duty was uncalled for, because the local supply fell short of the demand, even at extortionate prices. Mr John Tamblyn and other growers admitted to mo they were well pleased with the demand and the prices paid, and yet they are doing their beat to get a duty. Tho cultivation of fruit in the Roxburgh district is a complete answer to the Protectionist. Living at a long distance from the market, the gold digger, unskilled in fruit culture, but blest with proper soil and climate, ia able, without the slightest duty, to initiate and carry to a successful issue a moat important industry ] but without these adjuncts no amount of skill, capital, or duty could have accomplished the result. —I am, etc , WALTER BULL. Dunedin, March 13,