SPECIAL NOTES FOR SPECIAL READERS.

Southland Times, Issue 18059, 31 January 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

SPECIAL NOTES FOR SPECIAL READERS.

A GREAT OPENING FOR THE FRUIT INDUSTRY, When first it was suggested to Australia that she liad a future before her as an exporter of rabbits, the reply was one of derision. All the same the industry was launched, resulting in the discovery of a market where people esteem rabbits a palatable food, even if we here do consider thorn as vermin. It is the misfortune of all pi*ojects, when outlined by tho pioneer, to be received with coldness ; henco a certain trepidation in mentioning that no other country has a more glorious prospect oyer ths sea as a preserver and canner of fruits. Australia is essentially fitted to become thu Orchard for all that part of the Empire not so bountifully endowed in thia respect, but the industry requires to be conducted by exports, and on the most "advanced business principles possible. Australia imports canned fruits regularly from America, and bottled fruits from England, but this is not the result of necessity, but of Jack of local enterprise. A number of great canneries in Australia would assuredly iind an ample field for their labors if they worked on up-to-date methods, and with the single object of whining the favor of the hundreds of thousands of people desirous of becoming their customers. First only good frnit must be preserved and canned; then the method of preserving must be tho best known injiny part of the world. Finally the goods must be got up tvell and attractively, and well represented

and advertised the other end. These are essentials, the lost especially so, since in no department of c-:portin any part of Australasia is the in lust ry wmvasaed as it- should be. We havo given Australian jams n certain popularity among the members of the Army in Eughnd a»'d Africa, dn.^ to officials here influ-'noing nlfieials thero, bnt what is wnnted is enough private, even though corporate, enterprise to " shove " the goods on thi» old worl-t's markets, and have them called for over tho counter. To ensure this, there must not only be efficient canning skill and labor on the spot, but efficient representation the other end, and pjrhnps a liberal allowance for bold advertisement.- binoe it is only in this way that tho public are ever really reached. A few mea with brains enough— there are plenty with oapital — and an industry might be pioneered, the result of which would be a new source of national revenue. To repeat, we must have people at the back of it who will view a restricted market as " working in a tub," who will, in fact, view the entire world as a 'legitimate field for their enterprise ; and they must have the outside of their goods as good as the inside — attractive modern tins with ant labels which will compare with tbe best produced in any of the old centres where this feature is considered as of first-class importance. Such a firm, say a cooperation of firms, working in conjunction with the orehiudists of the country, could, with first class "commercial travelling " ami advertising the other side build up an industry which would stimulate fruit growing on the spot, and generally enrich the nation. The British people have a small country, and yet they are large exporters of preserved fruits, "biscuits, lollies and other things and where they have their richest "orchard,'' the sea, expoiters of £7,000,000 worth of canned aud kippered fkh pir annum.* Australia is an area illimitable, and is so, too, iv the department named, yet she neglects her opportunities, either through ignorance of the question or real indolence