OUR INDUSTRIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 204, 23 May 1919, Page 10

OUR INDUSTRIES

, • NEW BUTTER PACKAGE FRUIT TREES . The main evidence before tho Parliamentary Industries Committee yesterday was that given by Mr. P. G. MorgiUi, about the coal and mineral resources fli New Zealand (which evidence is notea' elsewhere). Other witnesses gave' evidence concerning various matters. J. 11. Robson, of Stratford, a sawmiller, attended to interest the committee in a butter package, It was cylindrical in shape, mado of three-ply white pine. He said that the package was stronger than tho present box, and would btfi produced at half tho cost. Also, it would conserve white pine, because it would use very much less timber. Tho only defect about it, admitted by the witness, was that it would occupy u little nioro shipping space. His package would be suitable for cheese also. He estimated that the cost of the package would Do about one shilling, as" against two'shillings for the'present butter box. in this way tho saving made would compensate for" cost in cargo spacu To Mr. Hudson: Fruit could be.-packed in similar packages, which could be jiiade at a cost oi , about'a shilling in two-ply. Representatives of the nurserymen of New Zealand waited on the committee regarding a difficulty they were in regarding applo and other fruit trees. .1 he Government had encouraged thb production of fruit trees, but settlement on fruit farms hnd been arrested, and the nurserymen were landed with enormous quantities of young trees. The request was that tho Government should assist the • nurserymen to find a market •abroad, fay in South America, and to subsidise shipping. It was represented that there were in stock about a lnilliou trees And tho bottom had dropped out of tho market for fruit trees because there was no local demand, except for home orchards. The nurserymen had been induced to plant tho trees on tli« representations of the Agricultural Department. The. value of present stocks was not less than *5f1,000. In default of ft market abroad, the suggestion was made that returned soldiers be settled on fruit farms.