THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 141, 29 May 1920, Page 3

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE. Wellington, May 29. Replying to a deputation J 1 . e Fiuitgrowers’ Conference, the Minister of Agriculture said ho could not give a definite reply to the request tor the continuation of n penny a pound guarantee for some years. Huh matter he would have to consider. In helping the industry the Government realiM'd that they had a duty to do and as Minister In- asked tneni to sure that there was organisation and efficiency. If they worked togethei then there would be sometliing wnteb the Government timid back and t,H‘J eould depend on the Government g everything pessibl.- to open m’W markets" lor tliet.l. He was hopelul of getting on to the xattli American market. AUSTRALIAN FRUIT TREES. With regard to importation <>t fruit trees from Australia, and suggested removal of the embargo, he promised to give the matter consideration. He could hold out no hope that there was going to be a supply of sugar at an) thing like the price at which it had been available up till the present, hut ho believed that the price would be reasonable eompared with the price at which sitgai was being sold in other countries. , ■ NURSERYMEN S VIEWS. Directly after he had left this deputation, Mr. N< isworthy received another deputation from the nurserymen. They asked him that on no account should he allow the removal of the embargo on Australian fruit trees. They pointed out that there was grave danger ot bringing diseases into the country by the importation of trees from abroac They denied the truth of sdl the statements made by fruitgrowers as to, the inadequacy of the supply of New Zealand grown trees arid as to their bad quality. The Minister promised consideration.