THE FRUIT-GROWING INDUSTRY IN CENTRAL OTAGO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2391, 5 November 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE FRUIT-GROWING INDUSTRY IN CENTRAL OTAGO.

(TI'AfKKA TIMEs),

Those who ridicule the effirts of the fruitgrowers of the interior— of the country lyin'/ about Co il Creek, Alexandra, and Clyde to secure a fair amount of protection for their industry can have but a poor idea of the full extent ami importance of the fruitgrowing pursuit in these parts. It is not too much to say that it is one of the most important of onr minor industries, and, if carefully fostered ami not too heavily Ii iodic ipped, it promises to play a prominent put in the progress of On'nl Otago. While we are not pronounced Pioieetionists in any sense of the word, we think tint everything in reason should Its done to put the fruitgrowers on an improved footing and relieve them from the disadvantages under which they now sutler. In the first place they are greatly handicapped in getting their fruit to market, having to cart it many miles by mail, as well as having to use the railway for a very considerable distance. When they get it to town they find that the market is glutted with outside shipments from Tasmania and elsewhere, and that its market value is at a figure which barely covers expenses, the railway charges alone being a very considerable item. A prohibitive tarillou outside shipments is not to be thought of, as it would not for a moment be tolerated ; but we believe there are other ways in which much good could he done by the Government without committing themselves to a protective policy. Some concession has recently been made in the railway charges: hut they are still unreasonably high, so something more remains to he done in this direction. The fruitgrowers themselves have drawn up a petition, which lias been largely signed, and which sets forth their position in a forcible light. It shows the number of persons which the industry directly benefits, the area of laud devoted to fruit culture, the number of holdings and trees thereo;>. and a variety of other useful information. About Co -1 Creek alone there is something like -VI acres devoted to limit growing, the number of bearing trees being II.">00, and in addition to this there are 0,000 nursery trees not yet planted out. There are also in the same district ten conservatories for the nursing of grapes—a branch of the industry which is receiving increased attention of late, and which promises to be fairly profitable. The petitioners ask for protection ; but as the present Government is largely composed of the free trade element we question very much if they will fall in with the views of the fruit growers.