Second Edition

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 June 1915, Page 3

Second Edition

'I he Fruitgrower and The Community

The following interesting paper, un-> ■ titled, "Tlie Fruitgrower and the Community", was road .by Mr J. Roibortsoii at the meeting of the Horowhenua ■Fruitgrowers' Association on Friday, 11th inst. That tho fruitgrower performs an important function iu tho general ononomy of the community i« stating meroJj a fact requiring little or no argument to prove. The earliest records >" ~ of history aro bound up with the work of husbandry and the filling of the soil; the traditional origin of tho race has ■an orchard for its setting, and tho tragedy of the entrance ol evil into ■world centres round tho apple. It is not my intention to trace tn© history of fruitgrowing from then till now, tout only refer to the past to shew that the cultivation of fruits is an ancient and honourable one, and of recognized value to men since the 'bogining. Tho changes which have taken place in the industrial, social and economic etruotuiro of the human race down the* ages, liavo brought about changes i-i this industry in common with others. To-day we live in an age of specialisation; the subdivision ot labour is carri- " ©d out to a degree hitherto undreamed of, and iii the fruit industry also, this principal, to an increasing extent, if being put into elioct.- it is not so long ago in New Zealand, when fruitgrowing was carried on in an entirely desultory way by farmers merely as i sideline to their mam business, and the marketing of fruit was represented by the taking of a b:i£, or a box or two of apples to the local storekeeper. This period now is passed, .'.nd a recognition of the immense importance of this ■ndutry to this country w growing steadily: That growing recognition also has Urought with it the specialisation of tho industry, at least up to a certain point, and as time goes on, the study of tho effect of varying conditions of dimat? and soil will oarry this specialisation further still. Certain districts will be given up to the cultivation ol certain fruits, and further, to the cultiratdon of"particular varieties. This development is iuevitablc, and is tho result of the forces at work compelling man to direct his energies \into the channels yielding the ibest results. As thie process develops, however, it brings about other changes, and it is Shore that my subject to-night becomes one of primary importance, as tho more an industry is specialised, the more the principle of the subdivision of lalbour ie applied, and in a correspondingly increasing degree does co-operatioa, between productive factors, themselves widely apart, become necessary.- 'n dealing with the many natural enemies of the orchard, co-operation may be essential, not only between orchardis+.s, Bttt between local authorities, cerealgrowers, poultry-keepers and farmers .generally, as was illustrated by this association calling a conference last month ft) doal with tho small bird nuisance; this is only ono instance amongst many similar ones that might be given It ie, however, a consideration -v. t degress of co-operation necessary boIween fruitgrowers and the community ' ' generafiy, that is tho prime motive o' This paper to-night. • What claim has fh~e fruitgrower on tho community .What claim has the community, on the fruitgrower H aro the questions which — will decide their relationship, and the degree of co-oi>erntion. The fruitgrower, like all other useful members ■.: of tho community, justifies his existence by the swvk-o ho renders: the providing of a wholesome supply of fruit for those engaged in other equally useful, but totally different occupations ie the basis of his claim to their consideration. He requires tho co-opera-tion of the community to provide what is necessary for him to carry on iiis work, and the workers who procure th« timber and make the cases for his fruit, his paper wrappers (when lie uses them), who convey his fruit to markat 'by rail or steamer, who carry on the wHole thousand 'and one operations which make his work ;poesible as well as profitable: all are rendering Jiim service in return for the service he renders tKom. A consciousness of this natural industrial co-operation is very helpful to every producer, as it natur-

A sum of £100 (has been promised to Mr "W. Hughes ,chairman of the Levin Carnival Committee, with a proviso that the £100 goes to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund if Foxton subscribes £500 towards the same object by Friday next 25th June*. In our advertising column it is notified that all business premises in i/evin .will remain open next Wednesday at'ternoon, and close at 12 noon on Friday next, "People's Day" at the Falamnion Show-.

ally suggests to him, the direction •« which his own efforts will meet with most response, and by " intelligent application of the knowledge gained eliminate waste, aikl so enable him to do belter for himself, ana improve me position of tlie fruitgrowers generally. It is unfortunately true that the powers that be, hnve not in the past realized the extent to which it was advantageous, that they should lend the active and helpful co-operation of tho community's resources 'to , the fruitgrowers. Years ago the possibilities of the dairying industry were recognized, and by active .state co-operation in the first place, and the stimulation of mutual co-operation in the .second, tli it industry lists gicv. n. and developed n a manner truly phenomenal. The iruii. Industry has not been treated in (jiute the way in which its importance nas ttoniamk'd it should bo treated. Reasons for Lliis might bo advanced easily, bun probably one main, reason is that - it nas no I an industry which 'nvolved t'iii! investment oi .such a large amount of capital as the other primary industries, and therefore the interests involved Avert! not so powerful. Of late years, however, thanks to continuous hammering, signs are apparent tli'at Flie fruit industry will receive more encouragement in the iuture than it lias in the past. it seems to mo also, that assistance should be given in tho direction of encouraging mutual co-operation amongst the fruitgrowers, and by exrending the functions of co-operation n such directions as a co-operative coot storage, with the establishment of pacKing and. grading centres, very much more could bo done to phuie the industry in a better position on the continent of Europe, inutua 1 insurance against loss oi crops by natural causes, has been carried'out very successfully, and while that may Iβ looking somewhat far ahead, still it merits consideration.

These aro some of the points which the fruitgrower, in lii.s relationship to the community, rightly demands conskleration, and the community, through Ms legislators, may well consider them, not only for the benefit of the fruitgrower, but also for its own benefit. Tlie importance of fruit as an article of food constantly is being insisted on by leading authorities on diet, and it is even making a safe generalisation to say that as man becomes more civilized ttie more will the services of the fruitgrower be in demand, and it may not be altogether visionary to predict a time wfieu man will cease to be carnivorous, and will be entirely a gram and t'niiteaftug animal. However, we may leave "tsuch speculations to others, and in file meantime content ourselves witii BnuTng ways and moans to satisfy iie demand that exists lor our products :i our own immediate community, and 11 ffiVi'larger communities across the seas. Fruitgrowers generally are alive to cue possibilities of their industry, but sTiii there are any who undoubtedly rebuke to be educated on many points. The demand for (State assistance and co-operation, carries with it definite oljTigations, and associations such as tins, are valuable in helping to educate the grower in regard to thett'j obligations. The primary obligation h'6 owes to the community to his follow fruitgrower, and. to himself, is to raise the standard of quality of nis product. The care of the.fruit, the preparation 01 Tt for market, are important" requirements that need constant stressing ami In the other directions suggesting themselves there is much to >be done to raise tile standard of the industry. Tiio key to the position lies m co-opera-tion ; the benefits of it are incalculable, the opportunities ailorded for comparison of methods and results, us , 'WeTT as the direct saving ui costs, easily point to that as the royal road to success for . the. industry. The community can serve the lruitgrowjv TTy Tiirect and indirect assistance; the fruitgrower can well repay the com inunTTy for its assistance with profit ■■> iTiinseTl. and so relate himself to it a a way that involves a larger eo-oper i tidn -vvith all its other activities n promoting the welfare of ail.