THE JAM FACTORY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 144, 15 June 1878, Page 2

THE JAM FACTORY.

To the Editor op the ' Evening Matl.'

Sir— The letter of Mr James Smith, which appeared in the Evening Mail a few days ago, aims at proving that fruit is dearer in Nelson, close to the localities in which it is grown, than in distant towns, and that consequently the proposed Jam Company will not pay. This opinion is calcjlated to create surprise, and will certainly not be accepted without further proof. But, however the case may stand at present, I wish to show, by a parallel case, that supposing Mr Smith perfectly correct in assuming that fruit is scafce here at present the unfavorable inference aa to the success o ( the company does not follow hy any means, It is matter of surprise to any one visiting the small fishing towns on the English coast to find that fish is scarce and dear, even when the smacks are making good hauls; but oh enquiry the reason is readily discovered. It is the practice of the fishermen to send all they catch fresh to London and other large towns rather than be at the trouble and risk of hawking about their perishable commodity at home. But this state of things is altered when fish-cttring establishments are set a-foot, for the obvious reason that a steady demand is thus created in the vicinity of the sea. It is easy to apply all this to the case of another perishable commodity, namely fruit. If it is true that Nelson fruit is cheaper at Wellington than at Nelson, so anomalous a stale of things will be altered by a jam factory} which, beine a cash purchaser, is not likely to lack supplies of choice fruit in preference to those exporters who force the growers to take goods in exchange, instead of money. Already one hears of fresh orchards being planted in anticipation of an increased demand for preserving, and I know of at least one Otago settler who is about to remove to Nelson for the express purpose of engaging in the business of growing fruit. In short, Nature has designated Nelson as the fitting locality for this not unimportant industry, and it would seem to be as preposterous to prefer Wellington to it as the place for a jam factory as it would be to manufacture bloaters in Loudon instead of at Yarmouth. I am, &c, F. W. I. Nelson, June 15, 1878.