Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY JANUARY 17, 1890. IS AN AMERICAN REQUIRED?

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 17 January 1890, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY JANUARY 17, 1890. IS AN AMERICAN REQUIRED ?

Some time ago we took the op portunity of directing our readers attention to the opening that existed 'in this district of earning, from the produce of thejr gardens, an increased income Unfortunately, in one respect, the people are too well .off,, to caret but a little 'increased labour, to put themselves into the position to do this. The reasons given, to the propositions we made, were, that in a very little while, the market would be overstocked. Roughly speaking, this might be so, for a temporary period, but the fruits of the labour employed would be present, and could be used, to great advantage to his family, by the grower. However this would be but a most indirect way of adding to bis income, though tlie consumption of his own produce, would necessarily lessen the consumption of any other kind of produce. We ; are bound to keep on calling attention to the daily waste Lliaf; takes place in this town, through the occupiers leaving the area surrounding their homes a waste, instead of itsj being'utilized to pay the rent If any kind of effort was made by the growers, it may be calcula'ed as certain, that a manufacturer of the produce would appear, and, as it is in this case, a question as to who is to start first, we have . no hesitation in asserting'-that the gardener must be the pioneer. The land attached to nearly every dwelling is fitted for the.tgr.owtb of both large and small fruits, and the ground is also suitable for all kinds of vegetables. Piokles are consumed in large quantities in the district, and it would take good cultivation to meet the demand. Jam made really from the fruit, is, easily saleable, though the prico is naturally dearer, than the imported stuff, which, bears the reputation of beiug chiefly pumpkins aud turnips. It appears to us absurd that j he.se facts require such, constant repetition in the Press, but that they do, is manifest. The amusing part is now pieseuted to us, by an Americ ai having discovered New Zealand again, and creating quite an excitement about fruit growing, in Wellington. He is described as an active man, full of grit aud humour, which we can easily understand, as though he means so well to the c >louy, he behaves well to himself, and whilst offering advice to the colonists, which is useful, also has samples of fruit boxes and baskets (for which be is ready to book . orders'. Tlie only use this gentleman is to New Zealand, ia the awakening the public to the oft repeated caution, not to waste the soil, for want of work, and we should be thankful to him for being.. of .use even so far. In Auckland and other parts, American fruit evaporators, have been known and used, therefore, except he will undertake to put up a plant, and purchase the. output, we fail to see what new thing he has brought out. We hold that the business men, and those who are interested in the advancement of this town, are as much to be blamed, as tbe occupiers of the properties, as the first named must be the perpetual gainers of tbe increased value produced in the ' district, whilst the latter may be only temporarily. Do our local storekeepers raako^ any effort to assist tlie fruit grower? Do they know anything of the different qualities of the fruit offered for sale? and have they any means of keeping perishable goods, so that they can buy at harvest time, and retail at the best selling season ? We regroi to say that we do not think any answer, can be given in the affirmative. It apparently requires an American to appear amongst us to tell us that there is money in it. If we had only arrived at these conclusions since the cousin from over the sea, bad told us, we should hesitate to bring the matter up, as we have always a doubt about such sudden bursts of invest in pur behalf, but the case 'is sv patent to any thoughtful person, as to need but more enterprise amongst our 'business people, to secure a large and : valuable development. To any storekeeper we assert that attention to these wants, wou'd result in a most gratifying increase of business, and in time become a mo3t valuable business of itself. If no one 'oares to act by himself, we would urge that some start is made, and a meeting of thosa interested, called together, as in a month, or two at latest, a he ;vy apple crop will be poured ou the

market, with the result of poor pi ices to growers and very little p^-o fit to the middleman, whereas, with proper storage and supervision, the whole crop would roaliso bettor prices, and the non keeping apples sold previous to tho bettor keeping kinds.. Must we import a Yankee ?