THE New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1896. THE FRUIT CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 22

THE New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1896. THE FRUIT CONFERENCE.

We join sincerely in the regret expressed hy the Premier at tho absence from tho Conference of tho Minister for Lands. It is always pleasant to listen to praise of one's work, and the Agricultural Department which was so warmly praised by tho members of tho Conference is entirely the work of tho Hon John MoKeime._ Ho it was who organised it in tho beginning; hu made its work a cardinal point in his laud policy, realising that without practical help to the farmer flu faruiingela.ss would disappear; he has watched over it: to this hour with ceaseless care. Of hostile criticism lie has had much, from opponents who .imply misunderstood to enemies who were too irreconcilable to admit that anything

■rood cmld coine from the Government. Bill of friendly speeci.es ho ba.s had none too many. Mankind is always more' prone to blame than if is too praise. II.• would therefore naturally have enjoyed tho speeches—it is about tho only reward that any Minister ever gets for doing' good work, and it does n. t come often.

We often hear of tho superiority of tho Australians on all points. How much better they manage these thing.-; in Australia is the frequent theme of tho Opposition press. Tho real truth of course is that then: is no Australian superiority on any point. Nevertheless, it is a surprise to many that New Zealand is the first Colony that has given real life to a fruit conference. The superiority is so greatly on the side of New Zealand. The Australians have had two conferences of fruit-growers, and both are without result for want .of records. Every paper read, every word of experience uttered, every practical suggestion—all things beneficial pertaining to the business of fruit-growing were allowed to tall still-born. New Zealand not only took caro of the delegates, but took measures to preserve) the record of their work and of their comparison of notes, and is providing for tho prompt dissemination of this most useful knowledge. Australasia will be the richer for tho Conference. That tho Agricultural Department, which has given

real life to the Conference, was spoken of by the Premier as only in its infancy is a sign to bo welcomed all over tho Colony, because it is a sign that the Government is not only aware of tho vast possibilities of development possessed by tho department, but determined to help those possibilities to the best of its power. It is not necessary to detail the multifarious operations of the department. Enough to say, that by its many ramifications the department will not only help the producing interests practically, but discover and report on the different kinds of assistance which require special organisation and liberal expenditure to enable them to keep tho producing interest up to date at every point of tho cxtendod lino along which it moots tho competition of tho world. An agricultural department properly managed is one of tho best forms of Stale Socialism. We possess it here in Zealand. Under its auspices ' we shall export fruit in largo quantities instead of importing it in small.