A NEW WAIKATO INDUSTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2714, 3 December 1889, Page 2

A NEW WAIKATO INDUSTRY.

A jikktiw; of the fruit growers of this district was held at Gilletl.'s National Hotel, Cambridge, on Saturday, at 3 p.m., to confer with Mr Clias. Banvell, as to the practicability of starting a fruit-evaporating, vinegar ani cider making business in tho neighbourhood. There were present:— Messrs Sharp, Forrest, Fergusson, Walker, Souter, T. W. Hicks, Adams, Gillett, Calny, Selby, and Dougherty. Mr Forrest was voted to the chair, and said he thought they were all agreed that

any industry that would help the farmers to get li 1 of their produce would be heartily welcomed in Waik:\t->, and especially one that would help them to dispose of their fruit at a reasonable profit. Ho learned that Mr Harwell had a scheme to lay before them, so he would at once ask him to expound it. Mr Harwell said the business that he thought of embarking in, provided the farmers and fruit-growers give him their support, was that of fruit evaporating and cider making, to which ho would probably add the manufacture of vinegar. He wished it distinctly understood that this business was not intended to supplant the fresh fruit business, but rather to supplement it and provide a method of disposing of tho apples that were unlit for sale in the local or export markets. .During his absence from New Zealand ho had been in tho United States, working at a fruit evaporating and cider manufactory, so as to become thoroughly conversant with all departments of the trade. Ho then went to England and purchased an improved plant, with which lie contemplated starting business in Waikato, if he met with sufficient inducement. Most of the fruit businesses that had been started in New Zealand had collapsed through the producer receiving 110 much for his fruit. In this country everyone seetned to cxpect 2d or 3d per lb., while in America a fraction of that amount was deemed a fair price. He wished to start on a sound basis ; one that would give both producer and manufacturer a fair profit, and build up an industry that would be a credit to the Waikato ; not 0110 that would give the producer a big profit for 0110 year and then collapse. As this venture was, to a great extent, an experimental one ; he had resolved to ask tho fanners to j'lin him in working it on a sort of co-opera-tive principles, Ho was aware the present •eason bid fair to bo a bad one for fruit, and probably that would have a deleterious elfect upon the evaporating business, as the price for fresh fruit in tho local markets ■vonld be highsr than last year's; but 011 the other hand ho thought it best to start

in a bad season, for if the business paid when fruit was scarce, it would be certain to pay when it was plentiful. The scheme which he submitted for their approval was aa follows The fanners to provide the apples; ho undertaking to supply all machinery, l)ay working expenses, sell the products and then divide the proceeds equally. l''rom enquiiie.s he had made ho thought by this method the grower would realise about 2s Jier bushel of 501bs. Perhaps Ad per lb, seemed a very small price, but they must bear in mind that this need not include choice fruit or keeping varieties ; and there would still remain a profit to come from the parings and cores, which would be made into vinegar. In the States the growers received from 20 to 25 cents per bushel, or not quite half the price lie thought they could count upon receiving, and yet they were well satisfied. Regarding jilums he had not had any experience, for they did not grow them in that jiart of America where he had been residing; but he had evaporated peaches and raspberries and he thought they were quite as difficult. He should be prepared to go into tho business largely another year, if it proved a success this year, and if anyone wanted plums dried r.r eider made he should be willing to do the work for them this season and t iko part of the produce in payment. If tho farmers thought his oiler a fair one and would accept it, he should like them to guarantee him a certain quautity—say 20 tons.

Mr T. W. 1 Ticks s.iid it was rather early in the season to guarantee any amount, indeed he himself did not care about guaranteeing at all ; but ho would promise to send his fruit, and was prepared to lose money upon it this year to start the industry.

Mr Forrest made a similar statement. Mr Barwell said ho did not require a written guarantee, all ho wanted was the support of the farmers and a sufficient supply of fruit to give the business a fair trial. If it proved tho success ho anticipated, ho should be prepared another year to go largely into the business, and would buy tho fruit from them. He would also go into the cider and vinegar trade, for which tho codlin moth apples wore largely used in America ; indeed tho technical term for cider in that country was " worm juice," ho presumed from tho number of codlin grubs that were used up in the manufacture of it. They must boar in mind that they would get cases returned from this business, in fact most of tho fruit would be brought in bulk.

Mr Gillett was convinced that fruitevaporating and cider-making, would some day bo a big business in Waikato, and he thought Mr Barwell would not regret starting it. After some further discussion, which was all in favour of the scheme, tho following resolution was unanimously passed :—"That Messrs Sharp and Forrest prepare and take round a list for the signatures of fruitgrowers, stating the quantity of fruit they will be prepared to promise to Mr Barwell to start the fruit-evaporating, cider and vinegar industry in the Cambridge and Hamilton district, the plant to be erected at Mr Sharp's farm at Hautapu ; Mr Barwell to find a market for the produce and divide the proceeds equally between the grower and the manufacturer. A vote of thanks to Mr Barwell for attending closed the proceedings.