The Fruit Conference.

Southland Times, Issue 13446, 5 May 1896, Page 3

The Fruit Conference.

[By Telegraph.] Wellington, May 4. The Intercolonial Fruit Conference opened thiß afternoon in the Parliamentary Buildings, about 80 delegates being present. Mr Seddon opened the proceedings by welcoming the delegates on behalf of the colony, saying it was pleasing to have present rem-esentatives from the sister colonies as well as from all parts of New Zealand. Gatherings such as these, attended by experts, must be of great benefit to the whole of Australasia, and he hoped the visit of the delegates from the other colonies would be of a pleasant and profitable character* The New Zealand delegates who had attended previous fruit conferences in other colonies had returned complaining of how little was being done to foster this great industry in New Zealand. He admitted that we had only just made a beginning, but later on he hoped to see the colony make progress in this industry and in doing so work hand in hand with the other colonies. In New Zealand fruit growers had many difficulties to contend with, principally owing to the configuration of the country causing considerable difficulty in obtaining markets for their products. The Government had practically adopted the zone system for the carriage of fruit and it had proved very - beneficial to fruit growers. The colony mußt hope for great improvement in the direction of the dried and preserved fiuit industry and this conference would be able to aid us in this respect. Mr Seddon ventured the opinion that in getting up orchards in New Zealand more care should be taken in selecting trees suited to particular soils. The other colonies were much further advanced in the fruit industry than New Zealand, but he felt confident that much good would result from this conference* Mr W. F. Campbell (New South Wales), expressed regret that be was the only representative from his colony and explained that the absence of other experts was due to some important experiments that were being carried out there, experiments which, if successful, would also be of great value to New Zea'and. He spoke in terms of high praise of the facilities tbat had been placed at the disposal of the delegates by the Department of Agriculture in travelling over the country. He had recently passed through Taranaki and he was surprised at the backward state of the fruit industry there. He was extremely obliged for the kind welcome chat had been extended to him by the official of the Agricultural Department. Mr J. Williams (Victoria) also, on behalf of the Victorian delegates, thanked the Premier for his kindness. He said he had travelled during the past few days over some of the finest land he had ever seen in Professor Bay ley (Queensland) spoke to a similar effect. Mr Seddon admitted that New Zealand was backward in the fruit industry, but, the delegates assembled in conference would assist ua to remove that reproach. He apologised for the absence of the Hon. John McKenzie and conveyed to the delegates the best wishes of that gentleman for the most successful gathering. He also wished to convey to the delegates the warmest thanks of Mr McKenzie for their attendance. Mr L. G. Corrie (Queensland) was unanimously elected chairman and after arranging details for the conduct of the business the conference adjourned till the evening. At the evening sitting a paper on truit culture in Tasmania by Mr F. J. W. Moore, of the Tasmanian Department of Agriculture, was read and discussed at great length. The discussion resolved itself into one on the subject of apples and embraced the question of size of packing case, prevalence 6t codlin moth, and the best varieties of apples suitable for cultivation in New Zealand. On all these subjects there was great diversity of opinion. The other paper was on orchard cultivation by Mr A. H. Benson, of the Department of Agriculture, New South Wales.