THE JAM INDUSTRY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4936, 8 February 1926, Page 2

THE JAM INDUSTRY.

KIRKPATRICK’S CHANGES HANDS. AUSTRALIAN FIRM’S PURCHASE. For the past 40 years, the "K” Factory has been the leading industry in the Nelson district. By jthe Will of the late Mr Kirkpatrick, who held the controlling interest in the business, his shares were left to the Public Trustee, in trust of the -Freemasons of New Zealand. Within .the last few days these shares have been disposed of by the Public Trustee and purchased by Messrs. Henry Jones' Co-opera-tive, Ltd., of Australia. This organisation, having a capital of £1,'500,000, is, a powerful concern, and it intends embarking at once on an extensive development of the business. Its organisation is one of the largest, if not the • largest, jam and fruit-canning business in the world. In addition to to the vast Australian business, it controls 95 per cent of the jam trade of South Africa. Henry Jones, Ltd., has in its service experts on fruit culture to advise on the best varieties of fruits, to meet the requirements of the business, also to instruct on the best methods of cultivation and the growing of such fruits, and as to the localities best suited. It is tjlie intention of the company to send these men to Nelson to advise and assist the fruitgrowers-in that district in .the production of first-class canning fruits, such as peaches, etc.