THE FREEZING COMPANY AND FRUIT PRESERVING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2555, 24 November 1888, Page 2

THE FREEZING COMPANY AND FRUIT PRESERVING.

In consequence of the unfair treatment received at the. hands of fruit-growers last year, the New Zealand Frozen iMeat and Storage Company will not be purchasers of fruit for canning purposes this season. This decision is much to be regretted, for had the Company been encouraged to continue this branch of their business, fruit-growers would be assured a good, and at the same time a cash, market for the produce of their orchards. They have, however, only themselves to thank, as instead of doing all in their power to assist the company in establishing the industry, they have evidently thought it a grand opportunity to "palmoff" what fruit they found to be unsaleable in the local markets, and by their shortsighted policy have succeeded in killing an industry fraught with so much advantage to themselves. The following letter from the Secretary of the Company hasbeen received by a Hamilton fruit-grower -. —'' Sir,—ln reply to your favour of the 14th inst., our Company is not buying or preserving fruit this season. Our Company went into the enterprise last season with the best inten tion to benefit the growers, and took particular pains to impress upon suppliers the necessity of sending "good green fruit," The bulk of the fruit sent was half ripe, and quite unsuitable for our purpose, we got roundly abused for rejecting the worst parcels, instead of paying for them and throwing them into the harbour. Altogether we failed to gather from our experience last year any encouragement to continue the venture."