NEGLECTED WEALTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20925, 15 July 1931, Page 12

NEGLECTED WEALTH.

<6 UNNECESSARY IMPORTS. APPLES AND CITRUS FRUITS, GREAT POTENTIAL OUTPUT. SOURCES" OF REVENUE UNTAPPED No. 111. Tho peculiar indifference of New Zcalanders toward the products of their own country is shown by their failure to demand that certain of the fresh fruit they buy shall be grown in tho Dominion. Last year £144,898 was spent upon oranges and lemons from overseas, and £12,553 upon apples from other countries. The oranges imported came principally from Australia, California and the Cook Islands. A few came from as far afield produced commercially in New Zealand. Last season the quantity so produced totalled 342,6001b., and tho possibilities of their production on a large commercial scalo aro engaging tho attention of experts. Tho time should come when tho importation of this fruit is no longer necessary, but unless the public is alive to the position and prompt in its support of tlie growers there will be no inducement for the production of this valuable fruit. Splendid New Zealand Lemons. In the case of lemons there is no excuso for purchasing overseas, since a fruit as good as any in the world is grown in New Zealand. The splendid climate of the Bay of Plenty, to name but one place, enables it to grow citrus and nearly every other class of fruit in tho highest state of perfection. The lemon groves there are a feature of the district. The Tauranga Citrus. Growers' Association has established a central curing and packing station, and the industry is a thoroughly organised one which, by its performance, demands tho support of the purchasing public. Tauranga lemons are marketed as far south as Invercargill. In many other parts of the North Island, .'emons aro found to flourish, and the activities of tho growers should be encouraged rather than hindered by the importation of this fruit. It is a shortsighted policy which does not foster an industry capable of such profitable expansion, profitable to the whole country as any industry must bo which provides employment for New Zealanders and keeps money circulating in the Dominion. The sum of £12,533 spent on imported apples, comparatively speaking, is not largo, but it is an expenditure every penny of which should have been kept in the Dominion. It is remarkable that New Zealand, which itself has an active export trade in apples, should also import this useful fruit. In explanation it is claimed that the " off season" renders necessary, but according to an authority the term " off season" is a misnomcr._ Such a season really does not exist, since the cool store can assure a supply of New Zealand apples all the year.round. Large Scale Exportation. A certain prejudice is displayed by a section of-the public against fruit -which has been kept in store. It is contended that the flavour suffers in tho process. Nevertheless, it is assorted by the authority mentioned that apples can leave the cool store to all intents and purposes as fresh as when they entered it; and it has to be borne in mind, too, that methods of storing aro all tho time the subject of research and improvement. Even if it were not so the sum of over £12,000 a year is far too great a price to pay for any fancied advantago to bo gained by importing tho*fruit. Again, New Zealanders, and rightly so, | have never been in doubt as to tno unexcelled quality of Dominion-grown apples, and this confidence has found expression in the building up of an export trade. But a very great deal yet remains to be done in this direction. New Zealand is so exceptionally well situated for the growing of fruit that, when its potentialities aro compared with its present performance, it is seen that so far tho surface has been only scratched. Tho possibilities of a really vigorous export apple trade on a large scalo aro unlimited, and there is no reason why New Zealand should not, as an apple exporting country, make itself not only felt on the world market, but assume there a very positive position. This opportunity, like others, goes begging. Neglected Source of Wealth. The samo might bo said of the lemongrowing industry. Not only can the domestic market bo supplied, but the export of lemons on a largo scalo is a neglected sourco of wealth. The consumption of lemons in Britain alone is an enormous one. A payable export trade in lemons, as in other commodities, would entail, of course, a high degree of organisation in tho industr,7j because competing countries such as Sicily aro favourably close to the British market and pay a much lower scalo of wages than obtains in New Zealand, but it cannot be charged against New Zealanders that they do not know how to organise. It is interesting to recall that at one period o'f the Great War the shortage of fresh lemons in London was so acute that they were selling at several pence apiece. At the same time Palermo lemons and lemons grown in other parts of Sicily—on tho rich volcanic slopes of Mount Etna, to tho eastern coast, and down to Syracuse—were lying rotting on the ground for lack of labour and other facilities for marketing, entailed. by the stress of tho times. Had Now Zealand been in a position to step into tho broach with a developed and organised industry, she could have demonstrated forcibly that the importation by Britain of foreign lemons is unnecessary. A unique chance was lost, but tho incident provides a valuable lesson on the folly of unpreparedness. Possibilities of Industry. Tho export of lemons as a fresh fruit , far from exhausts the possibilities of the industry. Thero remaifi such products as candied peel, lime juice and essence of lemon. Candied lemon peel is usually made in England from a variety of Sicilian lemon distinguished by its thicker skin, but fin equally useful lemon can be exported from New Zealand. Already, and in Auckland, a thick-skinned New Zealand lemon is used in the manufacture of bandied peel, and it would bo difficult, if not impossible, to find anywhere else in tho world a candied peel of such attractive appearance and excellent flavour. To .New Zealanders, accustomed to think of the country as'solely a dairy produce and wool producing one, tho exploitation of its subtropical fruit resources appeals as something foreign and outside normal experience. This is a mistaken attitude which is robbing tho Dominion of large sources of revenue. The sooner the potentialities of these industries are realised the sooner will tho country insert itself among the competing countries of the world, to tho greater prosperity of every New Zealandor.