1.—12.

172

[P. O. HAMILTON.

To Mr. Veitch: The Nelson Harbour Board wishes to develop the harbour. I have no idea of the cost of doing the necessary works, but if would not cost a large sum, as the dredging is easy. I understand the Board intends to approach Parliament for money. To Mr. Graigie: We would require a depth of 29 ft. in the harbour to take in the big ships. To Mr. Forbes: Unless the shipping facilities are perfect for carrying fruit under proper conditions it would be foolish to ship to London. I am doubtful whether those facilities will be given, as there are other lines that can be shipped that do not require the attention that fruit does. To Mr. Hornsby: Ido not see how the commandeer proposal will work. It would mean that you would have to commandeer the fruit in other districts besides the Nelson District. Once the export trade starts the growers would not favour the commandeer system. A, Gilbert, Orchardist, examined. The Committee will have noticed during their present visit to the " garden of New Zealand " that fruitgrowing here is a very important industry. An industry to be a complete success must have dependable and regular supplies, but in most parts of New Zealand, Australia, and America the crops vary very considerably, whereas in this district an experienced grower can ascertain fairly accurately while he is picking this season's crop what his crop is likely to be the following season. An instance of the consistency of the crop here is shown this season. You will have noticed that the Nelson crops are exceedingly heavy, and the trees well propped and roped to enable them to carry their loads. But Canterbury, Otago, Auckland, and Hawke's Bay are very considerably below the average, and in many cases almost a complete failure. A Dunedin merchant, writing for supplies, stated that the partial failure of the southern crop means that the Nelson Province will have to supply the bulk of the southern requirements for this year. Auckland is also requiring heavy shipments from here, and this brings us to the problem of transport. We are right off the beaten track. The advent of the North Main Trunk line deprived Nelson of a considerable portion of shipping to northern ports, and also its direct Lyttelton and southern "service. The West Coast service a few years ago gave us two good red-funnelled steamers weekly, besides a good mosquito service. But now we get only a small, slow steamer, sometimes once a week. The result of this lack of efficient transport service is that fruit is so long in transit, and receives so much rough handling, that we can seldom depend on its arriving at its destination in anything like a satisfactory condition, fruit apparently receiving no more consideration at the hands of transporters than do potatoes. The Government can give great assistance in this direction by making provision for through freight, the Railway Department being in a position to make better terms with the shipping companies than can be made by the grower, individually or collectively. In addition to through freight the fruit needs to be carried in specially constructed wagons (the X wagon meets the requirements fairly well), attached to passenger-trains instead of to the slow goods as at present. Fruit is a highly perishable product, and must be transported with despatch and careful handling. The Government by making these essentials available will be affording very material assistance to the industry. At present fruit put on the rails along this line on Tuesday morning cannot be sold in Auckland or Dunedin till the following Monday, and the cost of transport is nearly 2s. to Auckland, and slightly over 2s. to Dunedin, per case; and too often we receive a telegram announcing the fact that the fruit arrived in bad condition. Besides improving our existing means of transportation, we wish to emphasize the vital necessity to this district of a vigorous railway-extension policy. We are isolated, and isolation does not mean progression ; and if the industries of this district are to be progressive and successful the present railway, which goes to nowhere, must be linked up with the Main South system, and a light railway constructed along the waterfront to link up with Riwaka, Motueka, and Hie other large orchard areas. Fruit could then be placed on the rails at Riwaka and along the line, and be delivered at the west and east coast towns the following day in good condition and at a moderate cost to the consumer. The forests of the West Coast would also be made available for case-timber supplies. The Defence authorities claim that a through railway is a strategic necessity in order to assure a sure supply of coal. Had this province received the treatment promised when it merged its affairs into the Dominion scheme, or had the province continued its own administration for a few more years, these railways would have been completed long ago. For over four years both men and money have been devoted to other and more serious business, but we now look to a forward move by the Public Works Department, and we know of no more important works than these. By providing the transport facilities indicated the Government will reduce our transport difficulties to a minimum. The Government can also assist us very materially in the production of good fruit. Fruitgrowing is often spoken of as being a science, and any science to be satisfactory and really useful must be progressive. The methods of fruit-culture a decade back are useless to-day, and are solely in need of an experimental station. The Government have established one each at Tauranga, Te Kauwhata, and Arataki in the North Island, but we have none in" the South Island. The local associations have been carrying out experiments in the growers' orchards with fairly satisfactory results. But it is not fair to ask any grower or growers to do what should be departmental work. In order to get complete and definite data it is necessary that these experiments should be carried out over a period of years, and the results carefully tabulated. And this can only be done by a properly conducted departmental station. Returned soldiers and others would then be able to gain reliable information, and also receive training and instruction. We are notasking for an elaborate and expensive scheme. A moderate-sized orchard property, with a suitable residence for the district instructor, and perhaps whare accommodation for a few students,