NELSON APPLE INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20562, 13 May 1930, Page 14

NELSON APPLE INDUSTRY.

DiRECT SHIPMENTS.

ERECTION OF STORE LIKELY

Tho question of erecting a store at Port Nelson, for the assembly of fruit for direct shipment overseas, came before the Nelson Harbour Board, and received such sympathetic consideration that fruitgrowers are elated at the prospect of tho early carrying out. of n request that has been persistently pursued. Tho board has not definitely committed itself to erecting a store as it has no definite illformation as to apple exporters' requirements, but when these are known thorn is every indication that they will be given effect to. One point that has to be considered is whether tho store to be erected shall be an ordinary store with fans for keeping the temperature down or a refrigerating store.

Tho former would bo a comparatively cheap undertaking, but the latter would be a costly matter necessitating a loan. There is a fairly general feeling among exporters that as tho fruit would bo held for only a short period, an ordinary store that could be kept at somewhere about 40 degrees, would meet the case. Homo fruit for export js precouled, but a very large quantity goes direct on board ship from the orchard.

With a suitable si ore at Port Nelson, fruit could be assembled in readiness for the ocean liners and quick despatch given. There is always a risk when export fruit has to bo brought from three points (as at present), whilo (ho liner is at the wharf. Weather conditions may bo unfavourable or tho small steamers meet with mishaps. These conditions havt» actually occurred this season on both occasions of a liner being at Nelson to load apples, and while both eventually got away with their full allocations, tho risk remains of a short loading. A store with a capacity of up to 100,000 cases, would make things quite safe. Following the Otaki (55,000 cases), tho Zealaudic loaded here 18.500 cases of apples and 10,000 crates of pears. The Tasmania is due in a few days to load 43,000 cases. Two other liners will follow.

A statement has appeared in Dominion papers that the Empire Marketing Board, lins made a capital grant of £2OOO and a five-year maintenance grant to the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for research on fruit production and storage to be carried out in New Zealand. Tho information comes from a London correspondent, who states that the money will be used to buy an experimental orchard near Nelson. An orchard of 70 acres has been ollered for an experimental centre and the Department of Agriculture and the Cawthron Institute will, it is anticipated, co-operate m its administration. It is stated in Nelson that while negotiations as outlined above have been in progress no intimation lias been received by "the Cawthron Institute that tho Empiro Marketing Hoard has come to a decision on the matter. Jt s believed, how,ever, that important developments in connection with fruit research in New Zealand may shortly take place.