ENCOURAGEMENT OF EXPORT TRADE.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15024, 19 March 1919, Page 2 (Supplement)

ENCOURAGEMENT OF EXPORT TRADE.

FURTHER EVIDENCE

March 12th. -Before the Committee of Industries yesterday, Mr. F. 0. Hamilton, director of E. E. Buxtcm and Co., Ltd., gave evidence xn connection with the export of apples. His firm, he said, were the pioneer exporters of apples in New Zealand, in 1910 his firm canvassed the district, and induced-a number of growers to make a trial shipment of apples to London,-the shipment carrying the Government guarantee of Id per lb. They were compelled to take Other than export kinds," and in varying stages of ripeness. The shipment was badly treated en the voyage, and the results not so satisfactory as might have been expected, but it demonstrated what could be done under proper conditions. A second shipment went the next season with the same result, but about 600 cases were dropped at Monte Video, and sold rapidly.. The two following years increased quantities were sent with satisfactory results, but the routes of the steamers were changed, and the market lost. Australia was New Zealand's chief competitor in the export' trade. Nelson was the only district in New Zealand worthy of consideration, commercially This*" season other districts were dependent on Nelson for supplies to fill their cool stores. Nelson had never known a failure yet. No other district could say tho same. In l§oo the Australian exports were 11,000 ' cases, while before the war it was ap-' , proxiriiately one million cases per anI num. la ,1909, 9£ million cases of apples were imported into England, so . that Australia supplied less than one-1 ; ninth of-what was required. Nelson produced apples equal to Tasmaiiian grown. To compete with Tasmauia j better harbour facilities were required ,i at Nelson. The output of apples in Nelson when the present acreage came into bearing, at a low average, would be 1,865,000 cases. There was only 3h j . months in which they could ship from! si here, to' catch the 'London markets, i • I which would mean handling 100,000 I .'. cases per week. This would take' 14 i: steamers besides the Nikrai and Kai- : toa to carry the fruit to Wellington. I ■j Tf harbour facilities at Nelson were >. provided, there would be a great say-! , ing in.cost of handling and freights.1 . If these were carried out Nelson would j be able to compote on equal terms with ! Hobart. In addition to improved harbour facilities light railways were re-, ■ quiVed and good roads for motor traffic.' By Mr. Hudson: Unless shipping facilities equal to Hobart were provided he considered it would bo death to the j industry owing to the huge quantities > that would be grown.

By Mr. Veitch: In his opinion Nelson .was the only harbour in the district that "should be developed for oceangoing facilities. In .reply to Mr. Craigie, Mr. Hamilton said that the Northern markets could take unlimited supplies, and he favoured the Northern market as against, the South American market. I . Replying to Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Hamilton said he did not see how the commandeer would improve the distribution. Mr. A. Gilbert, president of the Stoke' Fruitgrowers' Association and a vice-president of the Provincial Council, said there 'was' no fear of over production. If shipping was not avail-, able the Government must- make it available. Owing to Nelson's natural facilities it would produce regular supplies, and when picking the season's crop one^ could gauge what the crop would-be next year. Few other countries could do that. Tho growers were looking to the Government to assist them to export their fruit. Mr. Hornsby:.State owned steamers would get over that. Witness pointed out the. disadvantages that growers laboured under at present in regard to shipping facilities as compared with some years ago. He advocated through freights, and the attaching of special fruit ears to passenger trains to expedite transit. He urged the extension of the railway to link up with the' South Island* system, and the. construction of a light railway to • connect Riwaka with Nelson. A ■railway to the" West Coast would tap the timber forests and. coal supplies. An experimental station was urgently required in Nelson. If one was established returned soldiers would be able to get information and instruction. At the present time experiments were being; carried out in private orchards, but this, was not a fair proposition.' He emphasised the desirability cf the Ptatr establishing forests for 'the supply of j fruit oases near fruit lands. lie sug-i gested that the Government should arrange for the supply of sulphur afj reasonable rates. At present they were paying £25 per ton, and supplies were difficult to obtain. He urged that the New Zealand sulphur fields should be exploited. He hoped the South American market would be avails able for New. Zealand apples. - His agent.at Buenos Aires was able to take 2000 cases per week. He pointed out that _ apples could be sent to South America without insulation. In conclusion, he urged the limitation of the period in. which apples could be imported into New Zealand. In reply to Mr. Hudson, Mr. Gilbert said if harbour improvements were not carried out, the present method of. sending to Wellington for transhipment would have to continue. Of course when the output reached its maximum harbour facilities at Nelson must be provided. The chairman'said there appeared to be a field for fruitgrowers on the Harboard Board. It was stated that there were several growers on the board at present. In reply to Mr. Forbes, Mr. Gilbert said that frequent applications had been made for an experimental station in Nelson, but the replies received from the Minister were not encouraging. There were three in the North Island, bub none in the South Island. Next J season there should be 250,000 cases cf i apples for export. Mr. Hornsby asked, whether with all the .money it had, the Cawthron institute could not have established an experimental station in Nelson. Mr. Gilbert remarked that the trustees claimed that their work was largely research. In an experimental station there would be a lot of practical work to do. BY-PRODUCTS. Mr. T. Houlker gave evidence in regard to the by-products from fruit. In _ regard to vinegar, an imitation article was on the market, which was being sold as genuine, in spite of the Pure Foods Act passed in 1908. It was impossible for the genuine brewed article to compete with the imitation article. He pointed out that in the event of prohibition being carried brewing plants could be utilised for the manufacture of vinegar. Through the manufacture of imitation vinegar being allowed the Dominion was losing £6000 to £6000 a year in duty. By the chairman: If the Act was enforced that was all that -was required. Witness continuing, said if the Act was enforced about half a million bushels of apples would be used in the manufacture of vinegar. By Mr. Hudson: He jmbmitted samples of vinegar, containing acetic acidi to the Government analyst, who informed him that the samples complied with the Act. He contended they did not; In reply to Mr. Forbes, Mr. Houlker said that first class vinegar was made from apples. Acetic acid was a preservative, not a food. In reply to Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Houlker .said that acetic acid was allowed in preserving pickles. The chairman said Mr. Houlker's evidence was valuable, and would receive consideration.