FRUIT INDUSTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 13, 16 January 1932, Page 12

FRUIT INDUSTRY

PROGRESS IN RECENT TIMES. AUCKLAND FAVOURED. Addressing Auckland Rotarians on the fruit industrv. Mr Harvey Turner stated that this' trade had made wonderful advances during the last 20 years. Not so long ago largo quantities of apples used to be imported from Tasmania, but in recent years locallygrown fruit of various kinds had increased remarkably and in the case of apples exports had assumed important dimensions. The Auckland province had proved under cultivation, to be one of the finest districts in the world for the production of a big range of fruit. Referring to a recent visit to America, the speaker said that California was the best organised fruit country in the world both from the point of view of production and of marketing. In California, formerly desert country had proved the source of great wealth from fruit, and Australia was following the American example. New Zealand was fortunate in that for practically 1000 miles one could travel over the country from north to south that could grow pip fruits in most parts. After detailing the class of fruits that are regularly imported chiefly from the Islands, Mr Turner mentioned that there were stiil some oranges being imported from Palestine, and not so long ago lemons came regularly from Sicily. At least ten different islands in the Pacific claimed to grow the finest bananas, but his own preference was for the product of Fiji. Complaints were often made at the cost of fruit from the Islands, but it should be remembered that freight and cost of case alone accounted for 6s a case before there was anything available for the grower. The growing and selling of fruit was

bv no means the simple proposition that many thought, but involved special dualities "and a lengthy experience on the part of any who hoped to make the fruit venture a commercial success. Considerable assistance had been given to the fruit industry recently as a result of the labours of the Cawthron Institute. For instance, the. woolly aphis had been so greatly minimised that nowadays there was not sufficient food for the parasite that had been introduced to combat the pest. In conclusion the spqfiker expressed the view that a good deal could bo done towards the solution of the unemployed problem if those who had natural liking and aptitude for the life were put on to lots of 5 to 10 acres, where they could grow fruit and vegetables and keep a I few cows.