CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Star, Issue 20198, 11 June 1929, Page 9

CORRESPONDENCE

JAM AND OTHER THINGS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —In your, footnote to my letter dealing with the above subject you state that tin- duty on jam is 2d per lb, not 4d. I was quite aware of this, but what I stated was that the duty on jam amounted to practically 4d per lb on fruit, and as jam is half sugar you will, no doubt, agree that my statement was correct. I understand that water is sometimes added. This will, therefore, make up the difference of duty on the sugar.—l am, etc., Melon. June 10. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —There appeared in your publication of the Bth inst. a letter referring to the agitation focussed on the canned fruit and jam industry, whereby an increased protective duty is prayed for. Your correspondent signs himself “Melon”—and little wonder! After reading his expressed views on the jam and fruit trade any reasonable person would pick him for a “ melon ” without his having to advertise the fact. I think, though, that he might have made a job of his nom-de-plumo and styled himself a pumpkin, seeing that a pumpkin is seedy but hollow, whereas a melon is seedy without being hollow'. If your correspondent had taken the trouble to consider what he was writing about be would have been in a position- to warrant a better nom-clc-plnine. The growers are not so much concerned about the prices now being obtained on the average for iresh irnit marketed, but they are very much concerned about the surplus crop. Does Mr “ Melon ” know' that tons upon tons of apricots grown in Otago are dumped simply because of the lact that there is so much importing into New Zealand? Doesn’t it sound fine to hear of all this money being tipped into the river,,dug in, etc.? This “Melon” upholds “the large Australian concern that controls the two largo New Zealand jam factories.” He is evidently not aware of the fact that these two factories imported a large amount of apricot pulp last year, whereas before being associated with the Henry Jones Corporation they drew their apricot pulp from Otago. And Otago should rightly claim to be the source of supply. Is the melon awmre that native labour in the industry in South Africa is at the rate of 17s 6d or £1 per month? The economic loss .sustained by ilm dumping of limits into New' Zealand is enormous.

The cry to-day is for more people on tho land. If tho present enormous importation were curbed the fruit industry would flourish to a greater extent. Let Air “ Melon ” consider the facts as a national proposition, not as regards the tin of fruit or jam lie might buy. The growers do not want a Government subsidy; all they want is protection of their industry to allow of its development on a sound economic basis. Last year £II,OOO worth of South African jam, principally apricot, tamo into New Zealand—£ll,o9o taken out of circulation in our country. Let Mr “Melon-” ask anyone in a position to know the result of this importation. Let him find out for himself how many tons of apricots were being supplied by Otago province previous to the importation of South African jam, and dried apricots, etc., and Australian pulp, and how much less is being supplied to day as a direct result. Has “Melon” any patriotism? Cut out the wastage by the utilisation of our surplus, and our industry will flourish. We are only a dumping ground for a large corporation at present. Every tin of apricots, peaches, and pears, and every tin of jam used in New Zealand can be grown and canned by our own labour, and I venture to say that our product is second to none produced by other countries. Otago produces the finest apricots in the world; others might produce as good, but certainly not better. I can produce samples if Air “ Alelon ” wishes. Perhaps this “ Alelon ” is one of those who prefer to use evaporated apricots from South Africa, instead of our own fresh fruit, for the making of his home jam. Last year South Africa sent in dried apricots to tho value of £30,310, and other dried fruits—mostly peaches—to the value of £4,412, all duty free. What about that, Air “Alelon”? And you don’t want protection! Where does your money spent on imported fruits and jams go, and what does it return you ? What does the country profit? Nothing! Now, what would the same money do if spent in New Zealand on our own grown fruits and jam, and what would be the return? Your unemployment relief bill would shrink considerably, your railways would get more business,- and idle ground would become productive. Also, our city would have a few more wheels turning. No, Air “Alelon,” your views are like your noin de plume, watery ami seedy. Only by the individual purchase of New Zealand-made goods can wo as a country prosper, for it would keep our land and factories working on a capacity production, and our money in circulation in New Zealand, where it ought to be. — l am, etc., Lemox. June 11.

DUNEDIN-MOSGIEL RAILWAY SERVICE. TO THE EPITOII. Sir,—The letters of ‘‘Worker” and “Constant Traveller” in your issue I to-night give a faint, but inadequate, j expression of the general feeling of indignation at the action of the Railways Department in putting back the sendee to worse conditions than existed a quarter of a century ago. In New Zealand apparently the larger the salary we pay for management the worse service the public gets. When tins line to Mosgiel was duplicated—thus avoiding crossing delays—it was laid down that no train would lake more than twenty-seven minutes from Mosgiel (only nine and a-half miles), and rosy pictures wore painted of what the department might bo expected to provide within a few years by the provision of electric and through trains, .such as are run in Melbourne and .Sydney suburbs, when •the times to Green Island and Mosgiel might bo expected to be reduced to eight and fifteen minutes respectively. In the interests first of the railway revenue, ,nnd, further, for the welfare and development of Green Island and Mosgiel, a through train—non-stop—-should bravo Green Island every morning at 7.) 15 and reach Dunedin at 7.i11. A through non-stop train should leave .Mosgiel every morning at 7. MO and reach Dunedin at 7.45. These trains should comprise four to live carriages, carry no guards, fares to bo collected on the platform cither before departure or on arrival. They would cost less than the present service and produce more. The Mayors of Mosgiel and Green Island cannot be congratulated on their service to their respective districts in their action over this matter. It was presumption on their part to assent to the department’s proposals without first ascertaining the views of those affected. In neither case is it a happy augury of the -people's choice. The Mayor of Green Island “talked big” over tbo unsatisfactory motor bus service of the City Corporation to a borough of the

importance of Green Island and its prospective development; lienee it was surprising to find him, without a kick against the retrograde proposals of the Railways Department, meekly submitting to its offer of a slower service. The friends of the mayor-elect of Mosgicl had expectations. The borough has suffered for many years from the “Cod I in's your friend” type, and it looked forward with hope to a change, believing it bad selected a man who would nob drift with the stream and agree with every opinion. His action in the first vital question of railway access to the borough- gives support to liis opponents’ estimate that he would prove a drifter, and badly wanted someone to push him and provide initiative. He has got his chance. Let him step up and show some backbone in lighting for what ho must know—indeed, lias publicly proclaimed —to bo necessary for the development of his borough, tf his council is a corpse, lot him wake it up and lead, nob follow.— l am, etc., Ginger. Juno 8. RELIEF WORK WAGES. to Tag imrroK. Sir, — I wonder if you could tell mo why it the Public Works Department such a. lung time to pay us mothers whoso husbands are employed at Hawea. our half-pay? 1 think it is a crying shams tin; lime we have to wait. It took sixteen days after the end of the month before we were paid for April, and it is now June 11 and wo have not received any money for May yet. Do you think tin’s is fair to ns? No doubt it dues not worrv the heads, hut they might consider our humble position and pay us a bit quicker, .so that we can try to keep our heads above water.—t am, etc.. Mother of Font June 11.

TRAMWAY PASSES TO SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. TO THE El) ITOII. Sir.—There is one lif.lle matter that F. iliiiik outfit to ho remedied. At present those boys attending High School who often play football after school are not allowed to use their tramway passes on their homeward journey if after 5 o’clock. This. I think, is an injustice to the boys, many of whom live in the suburbs, and whose only chance to practise is after school is over for the day, I might_ say that in this respect we are behind the city of Wellington where those attending the secondary schools are allowed to travel on their passes up to 0 o’clock. Trusting our worthy mayor will try and have matters remedied in the interests of our boys and girls,—J nm, etc., JIATJ-.rAVKR. June 10.