CITRUS FRUITS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22226, 28 September 1935, Page 14

CITRUS FRUITS

PEOGEESS AT KEBIKEEI government assistance SUCCESS WITH ORANGES " GREAT POSSIBILITIES " rjjy I'KLEOBAPH— SEECXATi b;b?Jkteb] WELLINGTON, Friday A scheme for the development ofcitrus fruit orchards at Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, involving a Government grant of £SOO and a loan of £4500 to finance ths erection of a packing and curing shed, and the installation or machinery, was outlined to-daj Jr. D. Jones, a member of the Executive Commission of Agriculture. The question of citrus fruit cultivation has recently engaged the keen attention of the commission, which has recommended the Government to investigate the possibilities of extending orange growing in the Bay of Islands district. Before his departure to take part in the meat negotiations in England, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates, suggested to the commission that the citrus fruit industry at Kerikeri. should be investigated, as ill his opinion it had exceptionally good prospects. Mr. Jones recently visited the district and he, too, was greatly impressed with the future possibilities of the industry. The Department of Industries and Commerce, the Unemployment Board and the Department of Agriculture are also interested in the matter, and already definite proposals for future action have been submitted to the Government.

Supplies For Dominion Mr. Jones said to-day that as a result of what had been accomplished at Kerikeri it was reasonable to assume that before long New Zealand could be independent of outside supplies of citrus fruits. He mentioned that one orchard, in which the first trees were planted only seven years ago was estimated to produce this year 2000 cases of oranges and lemons. That was an indication of the rapidity of growth and production. "We have been under the impression in New Zealand," Mr. Jones continued, "that while we can grow lemons we cannot grow oranges successfully, either in quantity or quality. We must alter our opinion in this respect, f<# the oranges at Kerikeri to-day, in my opinion, are equal to Australian oranges, and must command a ready sale in the near future. "The settlers at Kerikeri have formed a co-operative company with the intention of erecting a packing and curing shed and installing the necessary machinery. The prospects are such that the Government has agreed to make a grant of £SOO, with a further loan of £4500. free of interest for three years, in order that the project may be vigorously advanced." "Most Important Development" Mr. Jones added that prejudices against New Zealand lemons were quite unjustified. Well-cured lemons grown in the Dominion were quite equal to the imported variety, and the number of trees bearing justified the opinion that within two or three years New Zealand could be independent of outside supplies. However, the most important development at Kerikeri had been in the cultivation of oranges, as the area at Kerikeri in full production could meet the entire demand of the Dominion. At present importations of oranges were heavy and the fruit was often too expensive for tlie average household. The New Zealand grapefruit was another line that had distinct possibilities. All these fruits could be marketed xinder a New Zealand brand and the public would not be slow to appreciate their quality. Statistics regarding the imports of citrus fruits were also quoted by Mr. Jones. Last year lemons and oranges imported into New Zealand were valued at £11,582 and £122,543. The countries from which they were imported were Australia, the United States, British West Indies, Italy, Palestine, Cyprus, Japan, and various Pacific islands.