Mr. Nathan Deplores Fruit Importation

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 711, 10 July 1929, Page 9

Mr. Nathan Deplores Fruit Importation

NEED FOR RESEARCH DRYING AND CANNING INDUSTRY ••To me it is a matter for concern that New Zealand sends from this country hundreds of thousands of pounds each year for the importation of foodstuffs which we can produce ourselves.” The speaker was Mr. F. J. Nathan, president of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, who addressed delegates at the opening of the annual conference in the College Hall. Auckland University, this morning. He referred particularly to the importation. of canned fruit, which could be grown equally well in the Dominion. “Huge quantities of apricots come from overseas when they can be grown as well in Otago as anywhere in the world,” he said. “Australia with higher wage rates than New Zealand, and where nothing is cheaper, has made a success of her canned and dried fruits industry. “Auckland is concerned in the cultivation of lemons and oranges and there is a huge market in the South for passion fruit, which grew almost as a weed in Auckland.” he said. He added that already Auckland could grow all the lemons and provide all the lemon peel that New Zea land required. With oranges a good deal of research work had yet to be done, and the Government should establish an experimental station. “The scientific examination of the citrus fruit industry is just as important as was its application to the dairying industry.” he declared. “When dairy research was estab I lished it quickly justified itself, and ! I contend that the same result would I be brought about, in the canned and | dried fruit industry.'*