THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Friday, February 4, 1910. THE EXPORT TRADE IN FRUIT.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12764, 4 February 1910, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Friday, February 4, 1910. THE EXPORT TRADE IN FRUIT.

Teh intention of the Government to lend its active assistance in promoting

I the. growth of the export trade :n fruit, as expressed at Motuoka by oho Hon T. Mackenzie, and reported .in another column of this issue, will g've ■much satisfaction to fruit growers 'n this province. Thanks to local enterprise, Nelson has not waited for State, assistance before testing the possibilities of the market for fruit on the other side of the world, for as was announced recently, it is intended to make an -experimental shipment, Under the circtfmstauceSi outlined by Mr Mackenzie, however, many of the difficulties which would make growers'hesitate'to embark largely at first upon the experiment will be obviated. Fruit growing for export has been developed to so large an extent in Tasmania that the industry has become of the first importance in that State, . and although opinions on the results differ according to the point of view of the, authority approached, there is no doubt that*, the business is proving extremely profitable to those engaged in it. This is proved by the remarkable increase. In the area covered by orchards which, has taken place within the last few years. It is in Tasmania, therefore, we should seek the, necessary information to -suable us to enter the export trade, with good prospects of- success from the start, and in sending an expert 'o study the, methods pursued there, the Government- is taking the wisest possible course. The return Mr Mackenzie purposes to guarantee upon the nitial shipment of six thousand cases will offer an inducement to growers to co-operate in making the consignment one worthy of the province. Nelson, in common with the other fruit growing districts, now possesses the necessary facilities for successfully entering the export trade, and aided by expert grading, and with the innovation under Government supervision, we look forward to the time not far di !- tant when New Zealand fruit will be. held in the same favour by English consumers as New Zealand frozen meat and dairy produce.