THE ISLAND STATE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2737, 16 February 1910, Page 7

THE ISLAND STATE.

“GARDEN OF HESPERIDES.”

APPLES AND THEIR VALUE

Sir George Davis, Speaker of the Tasmanian Parliament, and a member of the firm of Davis Brothers, Ltd., proprietors of “The Mercury,” Hobart, who is in Wellington, in the course of an interview with a “Post” reporter, pave some interesting information of tli-e island State of Tasmania, of which Sir George is a native, and which lie has served for a great many years in the Legislature, and, incidentally, the capital city, as its Mayor. Questions were asked first about the fruit export trade, which had small beginnings, hut which has now made the Tasmanian apple as famous as New Zealand mutton and butter are i n fh® British household. “The- State, is flourishing at the present time,” said Sir George, and he ic for reel to the steady progress which is being made in closer settlement, esI .-dally on the north-west coast and in the /Southern district, where the fruit growing industry has gone up by leaps a pel bounds during the past fifteen years, and if Ne w Zealanders contemplating embarking in the fruit export industry—principally apples—were to take a trip to Tasmania during the season it would, Sir George thought, “he an object lessen in what the garden of the Hc.sperides, as Tasmania might bo called, could do. A stay of tw r o or three months would be necessary, but it would bo time -well spent—every day of it.”

There was no doubt, ip his mind, but that the extremely favorable climatic conditions of Tasmania had an import, ant bearing upon the success of this industry; but the orchardists were — generally speaking—keen, shrewd men, who valued the industry, and were determined to keep it at, and even go beyond. the high standard that had 1 already been reached. Railway extension in the Derwent Valley, also in tho Bagdad Valley district, had done much to foster the industry by giving quick facilities for reaching the port of shipment. Country around Bagdad, which was largely of a pastoral character, had been planted out in fruit, and when these orchards came to maturity they would contribute very materially to the railway revenue. Along the hanks of the river Tamar, too, a great impetus had been, given to fruit-growing. _ mid there were now to bo seen.magnificent orchards, where some years ago a. Iruit tree was a comparative rarity. There were line orchards on the east, coast, and the fruit in these would mature earlier than elsewhere, being ready fo.r shipment in February, tor Australia.

-Half a Million Bushels. —

“We expect- to ship away this year,” Sir George added, “half a million bush_ els of fruit—all for the Old Country. Given facilities in the matter of lower freight charges from the shipping companies, we shall bo able to supply every part of the Empire where our fruit- is wanted, to sav nothing of Continental (French, German, and other'' markets, and that at a payable price.” 'When asked what was considered a payable price for fruit, Sir George replied that it paid the grower handsomely if he received from 3s to 3s 6d per bushel for the fruit on the tree. Hb made lout a /.strong oa:<e ifor the uniform fruit case. Tasmania had fixed by law the shape and capacity of the fruit case, ' but while not presuming to dictate to New Zealand or the Commonwealth in this matter, lie said it had been found to be most advantageous to have a standard case, it facilitated business, prevented misunderstanding, and was cheaper to adopt- this system, and he thought it would lie found advantageous to New Zealand orchardists to follow this- example, and so get a uniform caso for the whole of tile” Southern Hemisphere.

Fruit inspection avos also referred to, aiyl Sir George said in liis humble judgment tlie Federal ( light to haA'e sufficient confidence in the inspection of fruit at the port of the shipping State to admit such fruit without further inspection. This course would save expense and loss of time. On the other hand, unfortunately, there Aver© people in Tasmania, ns elseAvliere who Avere shortsighted enough not to cave whether they sent uavuv good, middling, or indifferent fruit, so anxious Ave-re they to get rich. The conscientious and honorable shipper Avas made to suffer for sueli, for the shipment as a Avliole (the primest fruit included) Avas depreciated in price by the inferior fruit.-. Still, rigorous inspection at the port of shipment should be able to ensure the fruit leaA T ing in good condition, and the clean bill of .health given in one State should ensure the admission of such fruit to another. —Some Other Products. —

The timber trade in Tasmania was not bright, according to Sir George. It Avas, he said, in a transition stage. It should be better understood, lie held, that stringybark and eucalyptus Avere equally good, tho former being, perhaps, the better for piling. Reference Avas made, too, to the recent outbreak of Irish blight in the big potato farms on the N.W. coast. “Too mucli has been made in Tasmania of this affair,” said Sir George. “For years past this part of Tasmania has supplied Victoria, Ncav South Wales, and Queensland with the very host of tubers at remunerative prices to groAvers; but now, the land, this season, Avhich. Avould have gone into potatoes, is being utilised, to a very large extent, for dairying purposes, and so, out of the Irish blight, avo may be able to build up an industry of the kind that, has done so much for New Zealand, and the N.W. Avill, I believe, become, an exceedingly rich dairying country.” Wool has done much for Tasmania, Tsir George added. The estates Avere not large—not so largo of those of Now Zealand—but the merino Avool raised on them returned splendid prices, and " was much sought after by buyers. Incidentally, some members of the Labor party Avere anxious to see these estates cut. up for closer settlement: but Sir George held that, excellent as they Avere for pastoral purposes, they Avere unite unsuitable for closer settlement. On the other hand, there Avere vast areas of unalienated land which should be. suitable, and should be cut up for closer settlement. Long tenure leases at a peppercorn rent, could be granted, and opportunity should be given to the leaseholder of ultimately acquiring the freehold. “We are too small a community, in mv judgment,” Sir George added, “to adopt closer settlement as you in Ncav

Zealand have done, where the estates are larger; and Ido not see how it can he carried out in Tasmania, except by the utilisation of the tmalienated lands, -as I have suggested.”

—The Federal Tie.— Sir George hinted that Tasmania’s connection with the Australian Commonwealth had imposed upon the Island State, burdens that had been found to bo oppressive. “We have forgotten the old adage,” he said, “ ‘Creep before ye gang.’ 1 hope. Aviso counsels will prevail; but the Commonwealth lias been going ahead,too fast for us. It must be borne in mind that, big as the Commonwealth territory is, avo have, only a population of four and a-half millions to bear the taxation. We want to do more that avo possibly can do. But people should bo induced to come to Australia. Wc Avant more shoulders ,to bear the burden. Unless the Federal Parliament is successful'in the proposal to return 25s per capita to each State, then Tasmania Avill become involved! to an enormousi extent by a further increase of taxation to meet Federal liabilities. If it Averc not for the Federal burdens, there is not the slightest- doubt that Tasmania Avould be the most flourishing State to-day, “I am convinced that federation Avas a move, in the right direction; but avo have gone ahead too fast. Wc must not continue the extravagance of the earlier stages of federation.” Sir George Davies, in referring to the mining industry, prophesied that before, the end of the year there Avould be great developments in the Balfour region, of mines of the Mount Lyell character—copper, silver, and gold mixed. The mining industry generally had done much for Tasmania, and Avould continue to do much for it. As an example, lie mentioned the famous Mount Bisohoff, which Avas still a splendid dividend payer, and had been so for a great many years. Water-power has been “saddled” to the Great Lakes, and avus being made ready for supplying electric lighting and power lor the West Coast, and for the irrigation of many parts of the North-West and West Coast in order to bring in lands for closer settlement that ‘were at present unleased. The expenditlre on these Avorks Avere expected to yield handsome returns.