Inter-Colonial Fruit Conference

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 260, 8 May 1896, Page 2

Inter-Colonial Fruit Conference

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, May 7. At the Inter-colonial Fruit Conference this afternoon, daring a discussion on papers relating to the export of fruit, Mr Sissons (Christchurch) intimated that' if Government were willing to take charge of an experimental shipment for England, Canterbury growers would willingly supply the fruit. ■ . . Mr Ritchie, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, he was almost sure Government would be willing to undertake thii, but when an - experimental shipment had been mooted on previous occasions the quantity of fruit offered was so small that it would not warrant the shipping companies in preparing proper cool chambers for its carriage. ; Mr Blackmore, Government Pomologist, said if it was intended to make an experimental shipment at least 2000 cases should be provided. - * ■ Mr F. C. Smith (Sydney) submitted a paper on "Progress of fruit-drying in. South Australia." The writer stated that during the last few years the fruit- - drying industry in that colony had made vast strides and now provided a fair * margin of profit. In the course of 7 a discussion on the paper Mr Palmer, New Zealand Government Pomologist, predicted a great future for the fruit industry in this colony. v Mr Williams, Victoria, said that if he could get one penny per pound for his.. best peaches and apricots he would never go in for drying any more fruit. He also declared that the Mildura district alone could supply all the fresh fruit that was required in Victoria. Mr Bellcroft, Auckland, said there was practically no market for dried apples, and it was better to give apples to pigs than dry them. Other delegates said it was evidently a poor outlook for New Zealand fruit in the drying line. . , . A Mr Piper, Nelson, suggested there was an opening in the fruit canning industry; . Mr Carrie, Auckland; pointed out that in Western Australia where almost every brand was on the market, Auckland evaporated fruit and vegetables were in great demand. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Smith for his paper. Mr Lorrie, Dunedin, gave notice to move that in the opinion of this Conference fruit drying is not sufficiently remunerative to warrant people settling on the land with a view to deriving a , living from it. ' Mr Williams, Victoria, said that the motion might as well be consigned to the waste paper basket, Mr Lorrie said he wanted an expression of opinion on the subject. The chairman said although the motion wa3 not a satisfactory one he could not rule it out of order. Mr Fowler (Pemberton) gave an iinteresting account of the pit system followed by him in keeping apples. Out of a quantity kept by him last year by this method there was very little waste. At 10 p.m the Conference adjoprned till 10 a.m. next day. ThisDav. At the Conference this morning several papers were read on the subject of spraying fruit trees. The writers diverted on the necessity of orchards being kept clean, and Mr Blackmore, Government pomologist, author of one ot the papers, advocates the introduction of legislation making spraying of infected orchards compulsory. The papers will be discussed in the afternoon. Some of the Australian delegates- left for Sydney by the Mararoa to-day.