FRUITGROWING INDUSTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19504, 12 June 1925, Page 8

FRUITGROWING INDUSTRY.

SHIPPING FACILITIES. DOMINION’S EXPORT TRADE A SATISFACTORY SEASON. (Pan xJnitkd Pißkbb Association.) WELLINGTON, Juno 11. Tho confcienee of the New Zealand F ruitgrowers’ Federation was continued to-day. b It was decided Dial careful inquiry bo made whether resetting is regarded a. a blemish or defect m the markets of t c United Kingdom, and, in thc ( , e> : en “P plies being in the negative, that steps be taken to "treat Lids question with greater liberality when framing tbo regulations for the 192 b season. Other remits—to the effect that consecutively numbered booklets in duplicate bo used in pUmc of the present cumbersome form used in submitting export fruit for examination for export; that the Horticultural Department be asked wlierexei possible, to so arrange its district boundaries as to make it possible for orchards supplying a certain port of shipment to be Ze r tho charge ami control of tho orchard inspector at sue), port ; that a guarantee bo ,rjvcn for good trade: and that laboU and Government regulations be m the growers' hands, if possible, by November.lo of each year—-were carried. The work during the past season ot the Fruit Cool .Storage and Carriage Committee was outlined by Mr J. A. Campbell, director of the Horticultural Department.. It was stated that the shipping companies were anxious to carry fruit satisfactorily, and were prepared to do all they could to that end. The proposals made for precooling at Wellington were considered inadequate, and, in consequence, loading m Nelson Bay was advocated A trial was made with the Wauuana and tho Watruna, when it was found that dependence on weather conditions would largely interfere with the complete success of the scheme. The committee was of tho opinion that loading in the bay should bo discontinued. The only permanent, arrangement of a satisfactorv nature that could be suggested was that the Wellington Harbour Board should provide proper cool storage, facilities, and there was a prospect of tho board taking this i:p, provided a given quantity of fruit could be guaranteed to pass through tho It was decided to approach the Government asking it to place a total embargo on all fruit importations from the United States; also that the duty on imported ‘‘foreign” lemons be doubled; that also on imported cherries. It was staled that Auckland would bo able to supply the whole of New Zealand if protected against outside competition. Tho report of the Fruit, Cool Storage, and Carriage Committee stated; The packing and general appearance of our fruit for export for the. whole season was highly satisfactory, comparing favourably with that of any other exporting country. It is satisfactory to note that in this regard tho position is equally ns good and in some respects an improvement on last year. Mho fruit itself generally _was in very much better condition. Numerous cases were opened and examined on the Wellington wharf, and with few exceptions the fruit was in very good order. It was hi some instances slightly on the mature side. On the whole, much less bruising and damage from stem puncture was noticeable, due no doubt to the fact that growers generally arc becoming much more alive to the absolute nocessilv of care in handling and packing tho. fruit intended for export. Careful handling largely constitutes the basis of successful export, and although improvements were effected last season in this connection 'here is still room for a greater amount of care. There should be no great difficulty in binding fruit in sound condition on the English market, consequently fruit arriving in a condition other than sound suggests a fault .somewhere. There is a general impression that the cause is b'rgelv clue to I rent men t after It leaves New Zealand. This mav he so, but before a case can bo made good against the shipping companies sufficient lo hare drastic alterations made in the svstem of carriage, 1 1... grower must put his own house in order.