OUR FRUIT SUPPLY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 115, 13 May 1909, Page 3

OUR FRUIT SUPPLY.

A VISIT 10 AUSTRALIA*-.

HASTINGS, May 7. Mr Thomas Horton, the well-known manager of the Thomas Horton,,Ltd., Nurseries at Frimley and Palnatua, has hist returned from an extended tour of New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, in which States lie travelled some 8500 miles inspecting orchards and nurseries, and comparing methods in use. He. took over with him a few cases of applesJonathans, Munro's Favourite, and Stunner Pippins—on behalf of tne Hcwke's Bay Fruit Growers' Association for the purpose of bemg shipped to England, with the object of ascertaining the likelihood of establishing a trade in the Home countries. These apples' were unpacked in Melbourne and shipped with n large consignment of Tasmaman apples in cool storage. . "There was at the Royal Agricultural Show," he said to a Napier Telegraph reporter, " a most comprehensive display of apples and pears, in which I take a keen mierest, as you will readily understand, and as everything was named, I examined the exhibits carefully to discover if the varieties grown under certain names were the same as are crown in this country. I found that we grow practically everything that they do, there being only one or two exceptions, and they were, as regards apples, not leading commercial varieties. .The varieties which New 'Zealand nurserymen and orchardists recommend for planting as leading commercial lines are practically the same as those grown in the Commonwealth Stales. This Is a very important matter, because if their shipments to Great Britain and other parts of the world of certain varieties command a ready sale at top prices, it is of vital consequence, if we are to build up an export trade, for us to grow the same varieties, and to be sure that they are true to name.. This latter is also a matter of paramount concern to growers. To my mind the time is not far distant Avhen we must export apples in large quantities (principally to England and Germany), because, there are many hundreds of acres being planted of sorts suitable for exDort, and in order to get a fair price ft will be necessary to ease the local markets by shipping the surplus *WBy' THE CODLIN MOTH.

Yes, but has our old enemy, the fflodlin' moth, escaped your calculations, Mr Horton? "The codlin moth should possess no terrors for growers, now. I was afforded the fullest facilities by the Governments of Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, for visiting their experimental farms and the leading orchards and nurseries, picking up and giving information useful to both parties. I found that almost 95 per cent, of the growers were satisfied that the arsenate of lead spray had coped so successfully with this great pest that they have no dread of it, and they have agreed that they can now save 98 per cent. of the crop, although, at one time, it looked as if the industry was doom"There is a bright future before the apple industry in Hawke's Bay. The shippers from Melbourne report that the apples I took over compare very favourably with the Tasmaniangrown fruit, and, in fact, they say it would be very difficult to. distinguish the one from the other. I assure you that those who saw them were so much impressed with their quality and general s\iita,bility for export, that several gentlemen interested in the trade expressed their intention ■of visiting Hawke's Bay shortly to satisfy themselves regarding the possibilities of the industry in this district."

But it. is said that arsenate of lead and other sprays containing poison are dangerous to the consum-

"There is absolutely no danger," replied Mr Horton, "in eating sprayed apples, because the mixture is so weak that I would be prepared to eat apples after they had. been immersed in th©' liquid. Why, if if were strong enough to destroy human life, it would burn all the foliage off the trees. It would be absolutely impossible for a man to eat anything like the number of sprayed apples necessary to create poisonous symptoms."

LABOUR CONDITIONS

Did you observe anything in the ■'•conditions prevailing on the other side which is likely to be of interest?" v . - . "Well, I was much struck with the conditions of labour as it affects orchards and nurserymen. You can get good men with years of experience able to give a fair day's work at Ss for a day of 10 hours. Yes^ and

these are married men, too, with families to keep, and I want to impress upon you that the 5s a day did not include their keep. This class are living practically from hand to mouth all their lives, with nothing to spare for pleasixre or recreation. Several of them begged me to bring them, to New Zealand, so I engaged four practical men, who will arrive in a day or two, at 10s for eight hours, and are looking forward to life with hop© at last. Bread and meat in Australia are about the same price as here, but clothing, is cheaper. "What I was most interested in is that the Australian nurserymen bring thousands and thousands of trees, produced under these cheap labour conditions to New Zeala.nd, and canvass for orders from door to door. They are not burdened with duty or restrictions of any kind, and they sell at a fraction under the local rates, so it "behoves the Government to take steps to protect the industry in the Dominion. Imagine my surprise when I found that Chinamen yv ere employed by some of the leading nurserymen in Australia. I said to them, 'If I did as you are doing in my counbry I would expect to be hanged to the first lamp post, and serve'me right.' The Australian employers pleaded that the Chinamen were particularly suited to the work." How do you view Chines© labour apart from race prejudice? "Well, I cannot but agree that tho Chinese are useful and conscientious men in garden work, and are particularly well adapted to some branches, but their labour is cheap, and I am opposed to encouraging ' yellow settlement at the expense of our own workers. I like employing good men and giving them a good wage for a good day's work.

"After a conscientious tour of the three States, I came back here more than ever satisfied that Hawke's Bay is the place, and after an inspection of the principal orchards, nurseries, and experimental farms, I can state positively that I saw no land to equal the Hawke's Bay land. Trees grown here and sent out have been so satisfactory that one firm alone is spending _ many thousands this year especially in peach trees. Tho fruit crops in Australia this season are excellent, rather heavier than the crops in New Zealand, and the first returns to hand from England are very satisfactory."