The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 29, 1903. THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 928, 29 June 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 29, 1903. THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

A message received by (he Times from Wellington states that Government propose to introduce a Bill providing for advances being made to

co-operative companies formed for the purpose of canning fruit and exporting fruit in cool chambers, and with the approval of Parliament an expert will lie appointed to give instructions as to Hie best methods to be adopted. The suggestion to the Government to take such a course

came, we believe, originally from Gisborne. It is a policy which, we think, will be commended by all who have the welfare of the colony at heart. The Farmers’ Unions should

sound a note of approval, so as to encourage the Government in such a course, and growers of fruit should he keen to take advantage oT the proposal immediately it has received the sanction of Parliament, which it certainly will do if Government are encouraged to proceed with the measure. Gisborne has led with many tilings ; let it take the lead in this, and at the same time press upon Government to give early attention

to this district in case of such an expert being appointed. It is hard to explain why the fruit industry is so backward in tins district, than which there is none more suit able in New 'Zealand for the, growth of all classes of fruit. A great quantity of fruit is grown, but of that hundreds of tons are wasted, owing to

llierc not always being a profitable market. Efforts to start co-opera-

tive factories have in the past been unsuccessful, growers not caring to

embark on the industry until they could see their way clearly to overcome the. financial difficulties. The .Government proposal should concide-

rably smooth? matters in Shat respect. We have the soil, the climate and the shipping facilities, the largest cargo vessels now finding it advantageous to have Gisborne as one of the regular ports of call. There is a, possibility that a large export trade could be established without large outlay being entailed for a plant and buildings, the export being done through the facilities offered by cool chambers. It would be

a source of boundless wealth to the district if. from the least Cape on Hie one side, beyond Wairoa on the other, were to have the fertile land devoted to fruit-growing, dairying, etc. if only, say, Tolagu Bay. were (o csfablush a systematic export industry, what a source of wealth it would be; and wealth from the best, sources’, not the close work of a factory, but from health-giving mild„oor occupations. There is no part of the great least Coast district incapable of producing splendid fruit ; and going inland to the Mon there is no failing in that respect ; indeed, there has been brought to the town from the Morn such samples of Fruit as might well cause the envy of fruit growers in other parts of the colony What is required to properly develop the industry is a well-organised export trade, and apparently the opportunity to establish that will he given by the proposal of the Government. Settlers along the Coast, on the Gisborne plain, and further inland, are advised to he on the alert in 1 his matter.