FRUIT CANNING.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1926, Page 1

FRUIT CANNING.

DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY. GOOD I’ROSPKC TS KOI’ NELSON. XEI.SOX, Juno .10. It i.s tho intention of Henry Jones Co-operative, Lul.. which Inis acquired tho K .join factory, to extend the activities of the linn in various directions. ' li, is our purpose.saitl Sir Henry Jones, "to .supply Now Zealand’s total reriuireinenl's lor canned fruits. There should ho no need to import canned fruit from other countries. The iii'st thing to bo done, however, is to develop the growing of fruit suitable lor eaniliii.g. We are establishing n demonstration orchard Meek to thoroughly test out llii' district’s capabilities in this respect. This will prove whether or not the district can prow fruit in sufficient (piautilies suitable for our requirements. New

canning and sauce-making machinery lias already boon ordered, so it will not be long before a commencement is made. For a. start we arc prepared to take the whole of the canning pears grown in the district. We luipe to bold the market against all imported canned, fruits and make New Zealand in this respect self-supporting. Quite apart from canning we are developing and increasing all the present products of the “ K ” factory.

SFRPLUS OF [RASPBERRIES. •‘An unusual position has arisen in regard to the over production of raspberries. This season 500 tons were produced compared with 150 last year.” said Sir Henry Jones.

“ One grower, whose average crop for the past five years was eight to nine tons, informed me that the production olf the same acreage tin's

year was ,‘!0 toils, and on inquiry growers say the assistance and advice given by the Cawtliron Institute in regard to manuring and treatment, is largely responsible for the increase. Similar increases have been recorded right through the district. Last month we exported portion of the surplus to London, sonic (55 tons to a fresh market. We anticipate a considerable loss on tho shipment. Next year we will make New Zealand’s requirements of raspberries and the juice from Nelson raspberries, instead of sending over for Tasmanian juice. This will help to absorb a further quantity.” Sir Henry detailed a scheme he had evolved to assist the grower next year in dealing with the surplus crop. “We are prepared to finance the export of surplus raspberries to the London market in the coming 1927 season m> to £‘2o a -ton, and if the nett return shows a loss on this x>riee, the firm will stand it/’ he said, “ hut any gain the grower will receive. For our own requirements we have under consideration and will take the average of the past five years’ delivery at a fair factory price, based on New Zealand values.” Sir Henry Jones offered further to assist employees in the “K” factory, most of whom are shareholders owing to the late Mr S. Kirkpatrick having bequeathed a large number of shares to the staff according to, years of service.,