MARKETING FRUIT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 119, 17 May 1912, Page 2

MARKETING FRUIT.

WHERE GROWERS FAIL

Amongst what may be called the minor outdoor industries, none have made greater headway than that of fruit-growing. Fostered by a, paternal Government the industry has rapidly extended, as is 'shown by the increased area, some 5000 odd acres, that has been planted with various kinds of fruit trees during tlio past three years, making the total area of the Dominion's orchards some 34,----000 acreo. Growers have, in addition to having been placed on readymade orchards, been supplied with district instructors Avho have disseminated a great deal of \iseful knowledge connected with combating destructive pests, planting, pruning, T-acking, and so on; yet notwithstanding the increased area under crop and the more extensive production of theessentials of successful production at the command of the producer the consumer in the cities is unable to purchase- good locally-grown fruit at prices that como within the range of the ordinary wage-earner's pocket. The harvest reports from all parts of the Dominion show that there was an abundance of fruit of all kinds produced this year, but owing to the system of marketing in vogue it has not been distributed with advantage either to the prodi^cer or the consumer. In 3ome localities the local markets have been surfeited with supplies of peaches, pears, and apples, and a, great deal of waste has been occasioned through the fruit being allowed to lie rotting on the ground, while in some of the larger centres the retail prices charged by the vendors have been ridiculously high. For instance, last week in the outlying suburbs of Wellington hawkers were selling Motueka apples, either eating or cooking, at 5s 6d the case of 401b delivered at the door, while th© saitio quality''fruit .-was marked up in town windows at from 4d to 6d por'lb. Townspeople evidently do not know, or fail to take advantage of the fact,

that cases of fruit are carried for extremely low rates on the railway. It '■would be easily possible for one or more to pool their orders and buy direct from the grower, but those with the produce for disposal have not advertised this fact as well as they might have done. It seems thafc as soon as producers are left to their own resources they fail to make good, and it is to be regretted that a great deal of the, work done by the Government is nullified-by the lack of business method in the disposal of yields. That there is need .for reform is shown by fcae complaints that are made in every direction, but the grower seems to bo either too busj7 producing the article to give his attention to this important phase of his enterprise, or els© lie is sadly lacking in such business1 methods as will assure him the greatest return from his labor. Fruitgrowers are not peculiar ml this respect, for the keepers of bees, poultry, and kindred industries are in very much the same position. After having succeeded in producing the article there is a lamentable lack of business principles in placing it before those who require it From time to time co-operation is suggested as a means of relief, but so far the producers of New Zealand have not shown any honest effort to ,put into effect that system of marketing their goods, although an overwhelming majority profess to see great advantages that would follow a united effort.. The Director of the Orchard Division, Mr T. W. Kirk, and his assistant, Mr "W. Boucher, have been persistent in their efforts to get fruitgrowers throughout the Dominion to organise, but what seems to be everyoody's business is nobody's business, and nothing, is done in consequence. ■What would farmers think and say if the State expended the same time and talent advising and assisting business men to make a success of their investments, as is now given to the men on the land? There are many men conducting small businesses with limited capital who have perhaps a harder row to hoe than the small farmer, but they «re practically left to shift for themselves. If they win it is by their own initiative, if not they go .back to the ranks of the journeymen and begin over again. 'Phere "are of course'many successful farmers who have begun in a small way, but a still greater number seam to fail lamentably in putting the finishing touches on their work after Ixurig salefy piloted through the-in-itiatory stages' by the paternal instruction arid watchfulness of the State. Prope-i'ly conducted, there' is no doubt that the.-fntitg'rpwin'c-iildus-. try in this country has a groat future before,it. nut. until growers bestir themselves to devise some more sen-

sible means for the distribution of the product of their orchards they can never hope to get the full benefits of thoir labor. In the meantime there is a danger that the enthusiasm of those who have already embarked their capital in the industry .will become disheartened.—N.Z. Times.