COOL STORAGE FOR FRUIT.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13754, 20 June 1913, Page 4

COOL STORAGE FOR FRUIT.

INTERESTING DISCUSSION AT

LOWER MOUTERE

LOCAL ERECTION PROPOSED

The usual monthly meeting of th© Lower Moutere Fruitgrower' Association was held in the local hall on Wednesday evening. Mr. H. 0. HolduAvay presided. The chairman intimated that tho committee. had iixed tho following subjects for discussion at each monthly meeting:—Juno: Cool storage; July : Drainage and cultivation ; August: Hill planting versus flat planting. The subject of cool storage was then discussed at the invitation of tho chairman. Mr. McKoe pointed out that every year the Dominion sent thousands of pounds sterling outside to America and Tasmania for apples. Wo wera importing more than we were exporting. While the export trade waa an excellent thing they should keep an eyo- on the local trade. Last November Mr. McKee visited the Doncaster district in Victoria, where th© Government had etarted a cool store, holding 5000 to 10,000 cases. This was enlarged to 20,000 and proved still insufficient. Doneast&r growers floated a company and erected cool stores to hold 10,000 ca&es, and now there was further development. New stores were to bo erected in time for use next season to hold 25,000 oases. The private cool store was worked by an engineer-man-ager, each shareholder held an allotted space, and provided his own men to attend to his fruit. Tho upkeep of this etoro worked cut at J-d por ease per week, while the Government stores 'worked'out at ljd. Hero an engineer, assistant-engineer and labour was waiting to receive and deliver fruit. The cool store at West Doncaster held space for 8000 cases, and each shareholder subscribed £200. This entitled him to a space of 500 cases, tlio store was divided into four chambers, each of eight spaces of 500 cases. At the end ;of the year each shareholder paid his portion of the expense©. With interest on capital and depreciation thiß amounted to about £45 per year for each shareholder. Of course more than 500 casee can be stowed during the season. Some growers stored peachy s and early varieties of apples. Up to 1000 cases had been stored. This worked out at under Is per case for the season. Mr. McKee thought this the best scKemo for this district. Ho had sold i fruit at tho beginning of the season for 2s 6d to 4s 6d net; where if fruit could bo fo&ld in cool store till September, October and November 12s would be tho avcrago price. At a cost of j say 2s per caso the profits would __ bo I more than doubled, besides regulating i the> market at the busy time. The eni gineer . who had designed tho West j Doncaster cool store had informed him that the cost of a 20,000 case capacity would bo: Wooden building, single lined, £2,600; double lined, extra, £400; refrigerating machine, 20 ton plant, £1600;. suction ga§ plant, £750; emergencies, £SHO. This plant cost £1063 to run per yoar, which included working expenses., interest and depreciation. Tho income for six months' running would be, 26 weeks at Id, £2166; at l*d £2708; at l}d, £3250. Mr. McKeo also pointed out that tho pro-cooling of export fruit was an important matter. ■ Mr. WMtty said that cool etoro should bo their first consideration, but at Doncastor tho orchardists wore in a larger way. In this (Motueka) district it would be difficult to find a growei who could' put up tho necessary £200 as Mr. McKeo suggested. Mr. Wlytty thought a 10,000 chamber could be erected for £2800. Mr. Asbury said the most economical motive plant was the suction gas plant. Mr McKee said at Healsviile, Victoria, where 1800 acres wore in orchard there was a 10,000 cool storo in course of erection and at Packcnham, 2000 acres, a 30,000 store was in use. The Nelson district, with 40,000 acres, had not much cool store facilities, nr«l it was timo tho growers did .something for them solves. Personally ho did not pin much faith to the Motueka Harbour Board doing much in tho direction ot cool storage Mr. Massey • had .informed "him that the Government was formI ulating soime scheme for cheap money, i'reo from objectionable clauses. The cool store should be tbo growers' pivot

of operations. As the export trade, developed rejects and culls must bo,dealt with. Machinery could be provided for the manufacture of cider, vinegar, and dried fruits. Mr. Holdaway said ho was snmosvhnt pessimistic about co-openttion in this district. Their local fruit factory wan now in liquidation, and payment for fruit was hung up. Ho did not hold out mxich hope of tho capital being [ subscribed by tho growers. He favoured the Harbour Board obtaining the money from the Government. Mr. MoKee said a cool store committee was in existence. It consisted of Messrs. R. P. Hudson, W. W. Anderson, W. E. Rowling, Thos. Pattie and himself. Mr. Balch said ho would liko to see, some scheme where the £200 was net involved. Thero was a better chance of j the growers backing it up. i Mr McKoe said tho £200 could be i divided over two years for payment. J Mr. Gray strongly supported tho cool store question, and would likp ,to soe tho association offer somo practical suggestions. Mr. McKee moved, and Mr. Tacon seconded, that tho secretary write? to Messrs. J. Chambers and Son and .]. J. Niven and Co. for estimates for machinery, etc., for a cool stcre. It was also decided to write to the Prime Minister aßking liim to supply dot-ails of his scheme of cheap money for the it-rection of cool -stores and canneries as stated in hi® speech at Hastings. This closed a very interesting discussion. ■