TONGAN FRUIT AND NELSON GROWERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 16 February 1914, Page 6

TONGAN FRUIT AND NELSON GROWERS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir.—l have read the Tongan Premier's reply in last evening s issue in reference to a resolution passed at a re : cent meeting of the Nelson Market Gardeners and Fruitgrowers' Associa-. tion, and in defence of the members of that body permit me to state that so far as the coloured labour question is concerned they were evidcntW misinformed; but 1 notice the J ongan Premiei does not discuss the question of natural conditions. As it- was pointed out at the meeting, there are thousands of pounds invested in tomato culture under Viass in Nelson .alone, and the successful entry of Tongan tomatoes in the Dominion during the period our first fruit is being marketed would mean nothing short of ruin to growers in this Dominion. In addition, there is the upkeep of these houses, and the changing of soil, and yet it seems to me the Tongan Premier is ot the opinion that we. as taxpayers in this country, should submit to competition from, those who •jhoose to go to any far off spot for cheapness. As far as the fruit fly is concerned, we had a taste of that pest some ten years ago. ff I remember right, iiie shipment oi oranges were burnt at "Iriffin's Mill, and we had an army of Government inspectors scouring the ;own. That it is the wish of Tongan growers to keep their gardens clean I don't doubt, for we have grower.? here with the same wish; but we have dirty orchards and gardens, too, and it is A very strange thing if the same conditions io not exist in Tonga. A few years back Nelson was traversed by an army of fruit inspectors, with the result that practical growers were compelled to spray and do their bedding, and yet tolav we. have in Nelson dozens of or- • hai-5 that are nothing but a breeding oun.l for all the diseases a fruit tree \ subject to. and,yet these growers market their fruit with the next man. The question ■ we ask is, do these conditions exist in Tonga as far as fruit inspection is concerned. ' I have seen it inspected, and it does not carry much weighb with me. and in my opinion cannot be successfully carried out with_ a pest like fruit fly, unless every case is subjected to the closest inspection; and if my statement is correct, how did that shipmen of oranges reach Nelson? As for the minority ruling the majority, I am surorised at such an argument originating, as it does, from one holding such an important position. That we are in the minority it in true : but if, there any industry in the Dominion that is not in the same position ; and is there _ any reason why -the majority - should . crush any industry for the benefit- of those who. I understand, are not taxpayers, and dp not contribute to the public purse in the manner we do. Sir, I have read in your column,s from time to time .protests * from manufacturers ngainset importations that were affecting their trade, some of them from a labour point of view, and they have received due consideration, and it- is to be hoped that other associations will protest, and assist Nelson gardeners in their action. Re»ardinn- the statement that growers cannot supply the Dominion with sufficient tomatoes,* there is a shortage now, it is true, due to blights and extreme weather conditions in the spring, but 'given a

favourable season tomatoes r.re practically unsaleable at all the main ports at this time of the year ; and the mere fact of the Tongan Premier speaking of supplying cheap tomatoes bears out my statements that thev are jiot subject to the conditions and drawbacks we are, or thev would never be able to exist on their returns. Thanking you for space, I am etc., L. COTTON, President, Nelson Market Gardeners and Fruitgrowers' Association.