CORRESPONDENCE,

Colonist, Volume XXXV, Issue 7207, 11 March 1892, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE,

THE FEXJIT INDUSTEY. To the Editor of the Colonist. Sir,— Our settlers in this district should wake up to the importance of the fruit industry there is a lot of money in it. A representative of a London firm took one thousand cases from Auckland the other day. By the way, he lectured the Auckland settlers for letting weeds and rubbish grow around their fruit trees, forming a refuge for insect pests. Fruit is also being exported to the Home markets from Canterbury. Why should Nelson be behind these districts? It only wants one settler to go in for the industry, and others will soon follow. It is one that could be carried on economically, for the women and children could do the bulk of the work. It is one, however, that must be conductel honestly, and only good fruit must be exported. In Tasmania apples are actually being exported to New York. I think it was Cobbet who wrote—'- Whatever the pride of rank, of riches, or of scholarship may have induced some people to believe, or to affect to believe, the real strength and all the resources of the country ever have sprung, and ever mast spring, from the labor of its people." Sir, it is the labor of our people in 'our fields, orchards, and forests that will remove our indebtedness, and put New Zealand in the front ranks of food-producing countries. Great wealth will come from our orchards if pluck, energy, and determination to overcome all obstacles (like that shown by our pioneer settlers) is put forth. Yours, &c, New Zealandeb.