FRUIT INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 August 1941, Page 4

FRUIT INDUSTRY

LAST SEASON’S EXPORT V M l I <»1 ( OOL STOR \GI M \RKI II \(. OFFIGT \LK MEEI HARBOUR BOARD New Zealand last season exported 587,000 cases of fruit, of which Nelson's share was 386,000 eases. This information was given to the Nelson Harbour Board yesterday afternoon bv Mr It. Fraser. acting-Dircc-tor of the Internal Marketing Division, after an inspection had been made of the new cool storage shed at the wharf Mr W. Benzies, officer in charge of the pip fruit section of the I.M.D Mr R. T. Carlyon. District Assembly Manager. and Messrs N J. Adamson and R. Bin field (Horticulture Division) were also present. After inspecting the store, containing about 35.000 cases of fruit, the Harbour Board entertained the visitors at after n Mr J. II Brunt, a member of the board, introduced the visitors, and remarked what a valuable asset the cool store was. The industry had been advocating it for years. There had been a wonderful transformation from tlv? original cargo shed, and much work had be en done in the way of insulation, etc., that could not be seen The capacity ol the store was from 28.000 to 30.000 cases. The value ot the store would increase, said Mr Brunt The cool storage in the district was not in proportion to the production. POSSIBILITY OF EXTENSION Mr Fraser mentioned that the export of fruit from New Zealand last season amounted to 587.000 cases, of which 386.000 cases had come from Nelson. Mr Fraser said that the Government in its policy of cool storage had had a difficult job It had been an emergency policy, and some of tlie cool stores, built for an emergency would later be a burden, but the Nelson cool store* would continue to be an asset to the province and the Government. The possibility of extension of the cool store had been mooted, added Mr Fraser. They had given it considerable thought. Much depended on the goodwill of the Nelson Harbour Board, but he would not like to say to-day that any concrete proposals had been discussed. Their thoughts were running along the lines that increased cool storage space in Nelson would be an asset. Mr Benzies referred to the association of the fruit industry with the Harbour Board. lie said that he did not think that the Nelson store would be just an emergency store, and he hoped that it would be added to. It would need to be larger to be a really economic unit. This store had been built on an Australian's system and was the first in New Zealand built entirely on that system, so it would be interesting to see how it worked out in practice. Mr Adamson mentioned that the coo] store had been built rather late and the Stunners put in were not then in the best condition lor long storage However. an inspection now had shown that the store was functioning better than ever expected and the apples were in splendid condition. HARBOUR BOARD'S ATTITUDE EXPLAINED Mr A. Gould, chairman of the Harbour Board, said that the board thought that a very good job had been made ot the cool store. He wanted them to understand that at no time had the board ever been antagonistic to a cool store being placed at the port, nor had they disagreed with the necessity for it. But fur many years the board could not be satisfied that there was any certain future to the industry* Some orchardists failed and the board hesitated to boost the industry or tc commit the ratepayers to anything thnl might prove a burden. They had endeavoured to meet tire requirements ot tin industry as it gradually expanded Only recently the board would not listen to the suggestion of a cool store being undertaken by the Harbour Board. But to-day the position was entirely changed. The Government had taken over the industry altogether There was stability and the future was sure for many years to come as long as the Government continued to handle the industry. He thought it was tho finest thing for the fruitgrowers that the Government had stepped in and put up these cool stores, and the meat producers had reason to be thankful that the Government had seen fit .to send two feeder boats to Nelson. He thanked the visitors for coming, and added that the possibility of the cool store being extended was something the board would like to know about as soon as possible.