NEW ZEALAND'S HOP INDUSTRY

Shannon News, 6 November 1928, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND'S HOP INDUSTRY

PROHIBITION WOULD CRIPPLE HUNDREDS OF FARMS. The severe hardship that would be caused among those engaged in the hopgrowing industry in the event of prohibition being carried, was pointed out by the Chairman of the Nelson Hop Growers' Co-operative Association at their recent annual meeting:— "There are over 200 hop-growers in the district," he said, "and if this industry was lost through prohibition oemg enforced, we do not know what we could produce- on our farms to give the same return and income. "To further emphasise the importance of the hop-growing industry to the Nelson district, I have taken out figures to show what has been paid to pick the hop-crop. You will be amazed to learn, gentlemen, that we hop-grow-ers dtfring a period of five to six weeks have paid annually during the past sixyears over £14,500, and most of this, money has been distributed amongst women and girls. This one item alon'e would be a serious loss in our particular district, arid I am sure would be felt by not only the pickers, but every store-keeper. "You are all well aware picking is not the only item of expense in raising the hop crop. Labour has to be found for numbers tp i attend to the drying, baling; tilling cutting and stringing the vine, etc, and I do not hesitate in stating that the cost of this, added ;!to . t§i cost of picking, would total in round figures to anything from £35,000 to £40,000 per aanum." No less than £250,000 is paid annually to barley and hop-growers in New Zealand, affording a living to . hundreds of families. Prohibition as it would be enacted permits of no compensation whatever to anyone deprived of a living. This is one of the many reasons why a big Continuance majority is anticipated. —2*