FRUIT PRESERVING & PACKING CO., LTD.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 18 September 1903, Page 2

FRUIT PRESERVING & PACKING CO., LTD.

to the editor. Sir.—Through the medium of your paper may I beg space for a few remarks on the proposed Auckland Orchardists Co-operative Fruit Preserving and Packing Co., Ltd. Mr J. H. Mackie, secretary pro tern, has issued a circular to all shareholders requesting that they endeavour ta secure ±irther subscriptions for shares from theirfellow fruit-growers. Now, it seems to me that fruit-growers should be only to glad of the opportunity, instead of having canvassers and circulars going round begging them to help themselves. Procrastination again. We have trusts, labour unions, and co-operative dairying all an indisputable success, proving "that unity is strength." When shall we as fruit growers recognise the true value of co-operation and put aside all petty local considerations for the common good? To my mind, this Fruit Canning and Preserving Co. would be a boon to our North Auckland districts, and well worthy of our encouragement and support. As is well known, much of the land in this and the surrounding districts, is not suitable for agricultural purposes, yet admira^l^ adapted am not a betting man, but would be williag to back ten acres of orchard, against two hundred acres of dairy land in the far-famed Taranaki district, conditions, intelligence, etc., being equal. Distance lends enchantment to the view and distant fields look green. The dairy industry has made Taranaki famous but land is dear, thirty and forty pounds per acre, and don't forget taxed in proportion. „ Here we can purchase land from thirty to forty shillings per acre, which if intelligence and judgement are combined will return good interest on the outlay. Now to return to my subject, why should not fruit-growers have cooperative as well as dairy men ? Our Auckland fruit market is up and down like a jack-in-the-box, and the retailer gets the advantage. What we want is a wholesale distributing centre where prices will be seasonably regulated, and consumers can depend.on getting their supply reasonable and • regular. This the above proposed company purpose to do. As it is consumers have to pay about four times what the grower receives. Our object should be to place our products whatsoever they be, in the hands of the consumer, as cheap and speedily as possible, and thus do away with . the drones—for they are many—living at the farmer's expense. " God helps those who help themselves." Let us help ourselves and take a lesson from the progressive Yankee. He is supplying our markets with canned and dried fruits and he pays transit and duty. Can we not compete on such terms? Thousands of pounds leave our colony every year for canned peaches, pears and other fruits, : that can be grown in the poorest land in Mahurangi to advantage. Combine pigs, fowls and bees with your orchard if you want'many irons in the fire. That is the way tho pushing Yankee makes it pay. Nothing is lost. Even the codlm Moth is said to make excellent bacon, and the hen scratches out the wood-lice and grubs that otherwise would make a nuisance of themselves there is also honey in the blossom for the busy bee.—l am, etc., . Progress.