CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13278, 10 September 1906, Page 8

CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE.

THE AUSTRALIAN TREATY. WIOSrECTS OF THE NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRY. PROPER ORGANISATION AND EXPANSION NEEDED. A RKVRESKNTATtVi; of the Hkrau) waited upon Signer Bragato on hie return to Auckland to learn his views on the proposed reciprocity with Australia, and the effect it would have on grapegrowers here. Signer Bragato said the question was one of very great importance, and was causing dismay among the local growers. All condemned ft outright, as they considered it would make New Zealand a dumping ground for Australian growers, to the advantage of neither the growers nor the general public. "At present the importation of grapes is absolutely forbidden, is it not'.'" inquired ' the interviewer. "Yes," replied Signor Bragato. "But you must bear in mind this embargo was not enforced with the object of securing high prices for locally-grown grapes. " It was imposed to avoid any risk of phylloxera coming in from tho other side."

. "Then, is this embargo being removed owing to Australia now being free from this pest?"

"No; certainly not. So far from disappearing, it is spreading rapidly, and causing wholesale havoc in the vineyards there If it has been necessary in years past it is doubly necessary now, as the infected area in Australia is so much greater, and our own industry has grown much more valuable." '

"But isn't the phylloxera here already?" «sk«d tho reporter. "Unfortunately, it is, as many growers have found to their cost: and before my arrival the. Department of Agriculture spent thousands of pounds in endeavouring to eradicate it. "In what way?" asked our representative.

"Principally, by uprooting infected and suspected areas. This was stopped when 1 took charge of the viticulture] division, and my efforts have been directed to propagating resistant: stocks at the experimental farms attached to the division. These are distributed to intending planters. "Then, when all the vines arc on resistant stocks we need have no fear of phylloxera?*' " None whatever. But at present, practically the whole of the vineries and most of the vineyards are planted with non-resist-ant vines. If these were attacked, and had to be suddenly replanted, it would mean an enormous'loss to many small growers." "Well, admitting the importation would involve a great risk to local growers, would • not the treaty provide lie public with cheap grapes?" asked the Herald reporter. "That certainly seems to bo the popular impression. Personally, lam very sceptical ; in fact. I don't believe grapes would be any cheaper than now." , "But, surely, when grapes are sold at lid per lb in Sydney, and we have to pay 6d for outdoor and from Is to 2s 6d for hothouse, it would cause a big reduction in price if they could come in from Australia at only id per lb duty?'.' •„. "It does seem so: but have you tried to ' 6gure it out?" asked Signor Bragato. " Take ..a case of table grapes in South Australia, say a 401b case is worth. ss. To get here it has to pay freight down to Adelaide, from Adelaide to Melbourne, and then to New Zealand. That would mean a lot or handling, and about 10 days' travelling, with considerable loss in transit. When it ar- ■'", rived hero it would pay £d per lb duty, Hjt wharfage, fumigation charges, and carting, Wp before it reached the auction rooms. So you Hr can imagine the condition the grapes would be in by the time they reached the shop window, and I am afraid they would never be ticketed at less than 6d a lb." " Could they not be seut by some cheaper means?" suggested our interviewer. "Oh, yes. They could send them here lite grapes arc sent to London from Spain, packed in large baneb, with sawdust or corkdust. But even there, with free trade, v cheap freights, and a short journey, it does ■ X not provide the English public with cheap grapes.- These imported ones are sold at Ad to 6d a lb, but they appeal neither to the eye nor the palate, and most people prefer to pay double the price for a good bunch of English hothouse grapes." " And you think the- same tiling would happen here?" v. . . >£;' ,;. "I think so. 1 ' Look at the price of im- . ported pears, apples, melons, etc. Why have they not provided us with cheap fruit? Victorian pears, Tasmataian apples, and Sydney stone fruits are never cheap. They are always 6d to 8d per lb. Yet some people imagine they would be able to buy Australian grapes in Queen-street at lJ,d a lb." "Then the present high prices are not for the benefit of the growers?" "Decidedly not. Most of them com- . plain bitterly of the disparity between what the buyer pays and the producer receives. You will see that I dealt with this question in my annual report last year, and pointed out that the high price of table grapes was largely due 'to the ramifications of the methods of distribution. Outdoor grapes fetch 2d or 3d a lb under the hammer, and sell at 6d or Bd. Hothouse grapes arc knocked down at 7d to Is 6d, and sell at Is to 2s 6d. In fact, there is anything from 100 to 200 per cent, between the consumer and producer." ■. "What is' the -remedy?" queried the interviewer. "That," remarked Signer Bragato, '-S an economic problem, the solution of which is outside my sphere." " And have we no hope of cheaper .grapes?" Certainly, you have," he replied. "."is I have always pointed out, the industry needs proper organisation aud expansion Then there will be cheap fruit for everyone. We need better varieties, improved met hols of cultivation, and less costly means of distribution. Grapegrowing is only in its infancy yet, but I am satisfied, from an intimate knowledge of both countries, that grapes can be produced cheaper here than in Australia. I am, only too anxious to do what I can to further the industry here, but this can only be done, if I receive the full sympathy of the Department in this work. Even now I look forward to the time when viticulture will assume here some of the importance given to it in the countries of the Old World which possess a similar climate. There are thousands of acres in the North of Auckland now lying idle, which are splendidly suited for grapegrowing, and viticulture is an industry which necessarily implies close settlement. If it were only taken up in earnest, and properlv fostered by the Department, it would be a great thing for New Zealand, and there would be no more complaints of dear grapes."