THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 187, 11 February 1913, Page 2

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

THE marked expansion of the fruit industry in New Zealand and the ever-increasing opportunities for the establishment of an export trade would seem to indicate that those residents who desire to see the industry established in this locality have in view a highly commendable and

profitable project. Throughout the Dominion the possibilities of the fruit-growing industry are being more and more appreciated with the natural result that the total area of orchards shows a rapid expansion. The reports of the Agricultural Department show that 2,013 acres were plant-

ed last year which brings the total area under fruit to 35,967 acres. The Auckland Province with 12,424 acres is the biggest fruit-growing locality, whilst Nelson, with 6,224 acres has more than doubled its area under

fruit within the last four years. In nowise is the expansion confined to Nelson as by glancing at the statistics it is readily seen that all districts have participated in the rapid advance and the phenomenal progress in the development of commercial orcharding shows very clearly

that the fruit industry has a very bright future. For many years it was considered that there was no market for fruit. Even to-day .there are those orchardists who, through lack of sufficient knowledge of the commercial aspect of the industry, allow much good and saleable fruit to remain ungathered beneath the trees. The development of the exoort trade is doing much to explode this much ha'wked bogey. Auckland

province, however, had not, according to returns compiled on March 31st of last year, taken any steps for the export of fruit and it is a singular fact that, notwithstanding the fact that its area under fruit is double that of Nelson, no fruit was exported whilst Nelson shipped 13,670 cases valued at £3,334. At the time the report was compiled an order from South America for 2000 cases from Auckland and 500 from Hawke's Bay had been received. Dealing with the export trade the annual report of the Agricultural Department {.ays : " There is practically an unlimited demand for apples for export so that apple growers need have no fear of markets being lacking for the disposal of their

crops. The demands this season could not be supplied —in fact, the shipments made were exceedingly small in proportion to the orders placed. South America alone made inquiries totalling 70,000 cases; but unfortunately growers are not yet quite in a position to contract for such large quantities. . . The export business is only just starting." The cool storage of fruit, too, is growing in favour, and by proper provision in this direction there can be no doubt but that the fruit season can be very much prolonged. With the view to regulating the market by extending the local supply over many months instead of causing a glut on the market for the fruit season, the department is striving to encourage the cool storage system. In every stage of the industry —from the planting of trees to the marketing of fruit, the Agricultural Department is giving every encouragement to the growers and the fruit industry —if the Department's efforts are properly appreciated by orchardists —has indeed a very bright . outlook. In Tasmania the growth of commercial or-

chards is very considerable. Its

exports of fruit total over £SO0 _

000 per annum. John Foster Fraser speaking of Tasmania in his book, " Australia : The Making of a Nation," deals with the fruit export trade as follows: —" . . A tremendous and increasing' business is done in apple growing, and England receives about

half a million cases a year. The Tasmanian engaged in apple culture makes a profit of about £4O per acre " The suc-

cess of the Tasmanian fruit industry is purely the result of a systematic and well-organised method of placing the fruit on the markets of the world, where the demand is practically inexhaustible. Why should New Zealand not participate very largely in this most profitable trade? Practically the whole of our lands are well adapted to the growing of fruit, whilst climatic conditions are most favourable. This has been amply proven in the past when orchardists in every locality—who cultivated

their trees for their commercial value—obtained most gratifying results. Being entirely dependent upon the local market which for one or two months of the year became glutted and with no

preconcerted action towards the establishment Of an export trade the industry received a set-back. In many districts canneries pro-

vided a ready market, but labour complications have seriously retarded the progress of this branch of the industry. A New Zealand federation of fruitgrowers, for the establishment of which preliminary steps have been taken, will do much to remove many barriers which have hitherto checked the progress of the industry, and, as a united body, strive to bring the grower in closer touch with the" consumer, 1

so that the consumption of locally-grown fruit may be increased to their mutual advantage. So far as Te Awamutu is

concerned, those citizens who are striving to establish the industry in this locality are indeed to be commended. Natural conditions are all in their favour whilst much unoccupied and at present waste lands can —with the assistance of the Government, be

speedily converted into highly productive - orchards. In having gained the promise of Mr W. A. Boucher, Assistant Director of Orchards, that he will visit this locality, the Chamber of Commerce is indeed fortunate, and as a result of his visit, very material assistance will be given towards the speedy attainment of the fruit-growing possibilities of this locality. New Zealand is naturally an agricultural country. Its

greatest needs centre in the development of those industries pertaining to the produce of the

land and the closer settlement of its agricultural areas. The fruit industry tends to do this arid we hope that the time is not far distant when a considerable area of the adjoining unproductive native lands will be added to the commercial orchards of the Dominion.