FRUIT INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2247, 5 September 1914, Page 10

FRUIT INDUSTRY

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. Fruit-growers who have been in conference duriig. the week waited upon the Prime. Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) yesterday morning, to, bring under his notice certain matters referred to at the conference. Mr. Massey, replying to the deputation, said that if the Orchards and Gardens Amendment Bill,' proposed by the conference, with tho object of having instituted a system of grading of fruit for export, was a reasonable ono, he would endeavour to have it placed upon tho, Statute Book. ' Regarding complaints-about the dono to orchards by red deer in tho Nelson district, ho agreed that if deer were causing damage in orchards, tho protection upon them in that district should be removed. Hβ was quite willing, he said, to continue to guarantee to the extent of one penny per pound fruit shipped ovorseas to new markets. Further, he , promised to give consideration to a suggestion that the ■ Government should guarantee spraying materials. Froights on fruition the railways were as low as possible, but he pointed out to, the deputation that a Commission had been set up to inquire into shipping irates, and he suggested that fruit-growers .should give evidence before it. Hβ promised a sum of £200 towards the cost of organising the fruit industry.. He ; congratulated the nlembersof the deputation upon tho splendid progress tho fruit industry had made. .. ■■' ■..