FRUIT TRADE

Southland Times, Issue 20044, 4 December 1926, Page 8

FRUIT TRADE

SOUTHLAND’S SUPPLIES EFFECT OF RAILWAY CONDITIONS NORTHERN ORCHARDISTS HANDICAPPED “Eat more fruit,” and “an apple a day, etc.” are lyalth maxims too well-known to require an explanation concerning their introduction. Everyone knows the benefits accruing from quite a modest indulgence of fruit when considering the daily diet. But the question, it would appear, especially in Invercargill at the present time, is how to get more fruit, and how to get it at a reasonable price. There are, at times, quite sufficient supplies to be had locally, but the prices asked are so prohibitive as to make fruit a pronounced luxury and only within the reach of few. Invercargill, by virtue of its geographical position, is a sufferer where imported fruits are concerned and it is only reasonable to expect dearer prices here as compared with those ruling further north owing to added freights. Coming nearer home, however, it is astounding to learn that New Zealanders are practically prevented from enjoying New Zea-land-grown fruit. The railway conditions for the carriage of New Zealand-grown fruit are such as to thrust what amounts to a hardship on both grower and consumer alike. This statement was made to a Times representative while in conversation with a local auctioneer who has just returned from an extensive tour of the fruitgrowing districts of Christchurch, Waimate and Oamaru. His observations are as follows: “It is not generally known that Invercargill in particular, and Southland generally relies on the northern districts for its supplies of New Zealand-grown fruit. For hothouse tomatoes we rely solely on Christchurch, and we get the bulk of our strawberries from Waimate. The railway conditions for the carriage of the fruit, however, are a bug-bear, and until a revision of the existing conditions is made Invercargill will not receive the supplies it could absorb. Up till about a year ago Christchurch growers were enabled to rail their fruits on the daily express to Invercargill, and by this means large quantities were forwarded and reached Invercargill the same day as they were loaded. The fruit arrived fresh and found a ready market. Supplies were plentiful and prices reasonable. For some reason or other the Railway Department put a restriction on the carriage of perishable fruit on express trains, which meant the grower, if he desired to market his goods in Invercargill, was forced to use the “special goods,” a train which left Christchurch in early evening of one day and did not reach Invercargill until late evening the following day. Merchants at this end could not handle the fruit until the following day, and invariably the samples opened up in poor condition, the result of sweating for two nights and one day in the truck. It did not take the northern growers long to realise that the Invercargill market was falling off. Then we suffered, the result being smaller consignments and incidentally higher prices. This has been going on for over a year now, and one of the objects of my visit to the north was to endeavour to get better supplies. But it was only too obvious that nothing can be done until the railage service is made better. The Christchurch growers have made repeated overtures to the Department to have matters rectified, but so far nothing definite has been done. The general impression among the bulk of the growers was that they were greatly handicapped in getting their very perishable fruits to the Invercargill market owing to the present railway conditions. It would be a godsend to get back to the old conditions. If this were effected Invercargill would also benefit and more fruit and lower prices would be the order.” Cherries were plentiful in the Christchurch district at the present time, said the auctioneer, as also were nectarines, plums and peaches. These were grown extensively in the Heathcote Valley, but unfortunately did not reach Invercargill, being marketed solely between Christchurch and Dunedin. The railway conditions also effected the strawberry growers of Waimate, who could not afford to market in Invercargill, as the conditions put Invercargill too far away from the grower. Peas was another line grown in Waimate. Invercargill would see more of this delectable vegetable but for the rail conditions. “Nevertheless,” concluded the informant, “we may yet get back to the old conditions. The northern growers are determined to get a revision of the conditions and if it does eventuate, we should see a marked improvement in supplies locally.” Speaking of the prospects of the fruit season, the auctioneer stated that the season had been badly hit owing to squally weather and frosts, but although crops would be much lighter than previous years, a reasonable return was expected. There were tons of tomatoes grown in the Chirstchurch district and these were doing well. Stone fruits would be scarce and high prices would rule.