FRUIT RESEARCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22260, 12 May 1934, Page 15

FRUIT RESEARCH

THE FUTURE POLICY .1 QUESTION OF FINANCE. An excellent example of the value of co-ordinated effort is afforded by th* scheme of fruit research in which the Plant Research Station at Palmerston North, the Cawthron Institute at Nelson, the Departments of Agriculture and of Scientific and Industrial: Research, and the Cambridge Low Temperature Research Station in England all play a part. Such an organisation (remarks a report presented to the Fruit Research Committee) seems to be necessary to deal with the problems which arise in connection with the fruit industry, because these arg of an extremely diverse character, ranging from soil studies to cold storage investigations, and covering an exceptionally wide range of botanical, chemical, and physical work,- the success of any one part of which depends very largely upon the degree to which it is co-ordinated with allied investigations. LONG-RANGE VIEW OF FUTURE. speaking of the future financing of the present programme of research, the chairman (Mr H. Vickerman) remarked that the cessation of the grants previously available from the Empire Marketing Board, demanded that the financial position should receive immediate attention. “ Concurrently with the consideration which will be accorded to the financial position, I would sug. gest,” he said, that thought' be_ given to questions of policy with a view to determining whether the lines of research and its organisation are such a* adequately meet the needs of the industry. It must be remembered that the duty of guiding the general linos of research policy and examining its progress devolve upon this committee, and to it Research Council looks for advice in matters pertaining to fruit research. I am of the opinion that the future -welfare of the industry is very dependent upon . the adoption of a research programme evolved as the result of taking a long-range view of future developments. “ The Research Council feels that it is desirable that the fruit industry, m common with the dairy and the wheat industries, should assume a greater measure of financial responsibility fori research work done on its behalf. The council recalled with gratitude the appreciated action of the Fruit Control Board in making available a grant of £1250' for i the purchase of the orchard, an action which actually brought the whole scheme of research into being. I therefore desire to urge that representatives of the industry initiate soma means whereby fruitgrowers will participate oh a subsidised basis with the Government in the provision of fund* adequate to meet the costs of a programme of research which possesses it* confidence and is adequate for the present and future need s of the industry. _ Even though this may prove to be 'a difficult task to arrange on an entirely equitable basis, these difficulties should be possible of being overcome without jeopardising a most important phase of fruit development in the Dominion.” REAL ASSISTANCE RENDERED. Referring to the assistance which had been received from the Empire Marketing Board, the chairman said: “The approaching cessation of the grant* made from the Empire Marketing Board funds (these being due to expire between June and September of the present year) renders it a fitting occasion to express appreciation of the assistanca which the Empire Marketing Board has rendered towards the promotion of fruit research in the Dominion. The board originally made a grant of £2350 for capital expenditure, and an annual grant of up to £IB6O for a period of five years for the purpose’ of promoting a fruit research scheme in the Dominion. The original offer of the board provided a great stimulus towards bringing into being the present research scheme, and up to the time when its activities will cease a total of over £SOOO will have been received from this source. Though the termination of the grant is very generally regretted, nevertheless the real assistance rendered by its being available has been much appreciated, and it is hopad that the support which has thus been rendered by the Empire Marketing Board funds will be maintained now that Dio research has to proceed independently of this assistance.” ADVANCE GUARD OF INDUSTRY. In fruit research, as in other research, a long-range policy was needed, concluded the chairman in his report, and he took the view that fruit research had to act as the advance guard of the industry, and to render it such service am would enable the industry always to be in a position _ to cope with the circumstance# of the time. Developments in the fruit industry are naturally slow,” he said. ■'Changes cannot be brought about rapidly. There ie therefore a constant need for looking well ahead in all branches of 'research, whether these affect fruit propagation, tree nutrition, soil treatment, disease control, or fruit handling, so that the Dominion will always be in a position to provide fruit of such quantity and quality as meets the requirements of consumers and of the trade.”