"A CRITICAL SEASON,''

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1185, 21 July 1911, Page 8

"A CRITICAL SEASON,''

FRUIT EXPORT INDUSTRY. At the last meeting of the Horowlicnua Fruitgrowers' -Association a letter, from which the following are extracts, was received j'rom the secretary of the Moutere Fruitgrowers' Association:—"l am instructed by my association to bring under your notice the question of the export of fresh fruit for tho coming season. ... My association recognises that with the hundreds of acres of orchard that are now being planted every year (the estimated planting in llotueka and -Moutere districts alone for the coming season being ono thousand acres) it is absolutely necessary that an export trade be worlced up. My association feels that next season will be a very critical ono for the friiit industry. Large apple crops are expected, as a great area of young orchard is comjng into bearing. It is absolutely necessary that a considerable portion of the crop be exported, otherwise the New Zealand markets will bo absolutely glutted. After two years' oxpcriooce it is extremely unlikely that any part of tho Government gnaranteo wiil be required, but, at the same time, growers are nervous of taking the risk after the unfortunate experiences of tho last two years. I am therefore instructed to approach every fruitgrowers' association in the Dominion to ask them to impress upon His Minister for Agriculture tho importance and urgency of- granting a full guarantee of a penny per pound on ,all apples exported for at least one more season." It was decided by the Horowlicnua Association that a deputation should approach Mr. Field, and ask him to urge the Government to continue the guarantee of one penny ,pcr lb. on nil'export apples.