FRUIT EXPORT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1802, 15 July 1913, Page 8

FRUIT EXPORT.

GROWERS & SHIPPERS MEET. SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. A conference between New Zealand fruit-exporters' and shipowners' representatives was opened in Parliament-Build-ings yesterday. Mr. Kayo, of Christchurch, presided. Mr. T. W. ICirk, chief of the Orchards Division of tho Agricultural Department, attended. The business of the conference was to discuss mattors bearing 011 the export trade of fruit. Tho Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) formally opened the conference. In doing so lie said that he was glad to have an opportunity of meeting this little gathering of gentlemen interested in the fruit industry. He would like to congratulate the fruit-growers on tho vast 'improvement which had taken place in the industry for tho present season as compared with tho previous season. Tho total export of apples for last season was 17,000 cases, while, iluring the season just closing, no fewer than 30,000 cases liad been shipped to South America alone; and, by tho time all tho returns wera available, it would doubtless be found that tho exports had more than doubled. This improvement in New Zealand's output, lie was aware, was partly due to short supply from Tasmania. However, New Zealand had (secured tho market, and he hoped that the growers here would bo ablo to retain it. As with all other oxports, the success of thp industry depended 011 the quality of the supply, so it was tho duty of the exporters to see that everything possible was dona to keep up tho quality of tho fruit and to please tho customers at the other end. lii Tasmania, fruit-growing was the chief industry, but there was reason to believo that the climate of New Zealand was just as suitable for the growing of fruit as was tlmt of Tflsmanin. In his capacity as a Minister,'and as a private member of the House, 110 had travelled from 0110 end of New Zealand to tho other, nnd hd had sem magnificent apples grown in the sub-tropical climate of North Auckland, and apples of the samo high quality grown near the snow-lino in Central Otago. This being tlie ca.s'o regarding tho two extreme climates of New Zealand, it seemed that the country!in be-' tween must certainly be adapted to fruitgrowing. Tho industry was going to be a most important one. and tho Government; would do nil it could to help it along. During the present session 110 hoped to be ablo to bring down a Bill which would enable ono of tho Stato Departments to advance money for tho aiding. of storage, nnd canning projects. Thatcourse had been taken with regard to dairying, and they hoped to be ablo to do the same for the apple industry. Mr. Massey regretted that the gathering was not more representative, because ho believed that a great deal of good was done through representatives of an industry conferring and discussing the conditions of that industry. Ho hoped, however, that tho deliberations of the delegates would lie of value to the industry, and 110 remarked that if they were they would bo of value to the country as a whole. Ho would be glad to hear tho result of the conference, and hoped that they would report to liim at the conclusion of the. gathering. (Applause.) Tho conference decided to transact its business in committee, and to supply a report of its proceedings to the press.