2 TASMANIAN SCHOOL OF 



outdistanced in the fierce race of life, and learn, perhaps 

 too late, that " the survival of the fittest " is the ultimate 

 result of the struggle, and that their old-fashioned and 

 unreasoning efforts have neither benefited themselves nor 

 others 



We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that in every 

 branch of business and industry the most important im^prove- 

 ments and developments are being introduced daily, requiring 

 careful scientific, technical, and practical teaching, training, 

 and study to enable us to understand them thoroughly, to 

 adapt them to our own requirements, and to profit by these 

 nev/ facilities for the promotion of commerce in our own 

 interest and for our country's benefit. 



Quite lately most important changes have been introduced 

 into your own export business. Quick steamers, fitted with 

 refrigerating machinery and chambers, call weekly at 

 Hobart, enabling you to deliver your splendid fruit in good 

 condition in the markets of England and the Continent, at 

 a period of the year when such produce, if of good quality, 

 ought to realise a remunerative result. Have you profited 

 by this grand opening for your fruit trade, and have satis- 

 factory results been obtained by producers and exporters ? 



From market reports it appears that about 85. per case 

 was the average rate realised for your apples, a price which, 

 after paying freight and other charges, will certainly not 

 leave much, if any, profit to the producer or exporter. Con- 

 sidering that good Tasmanian apples v-^ere being retailed at 

 the same date in England at Sd. per pound (about 305. per 

 case, and South Australian produce was realising 135. to 

 15s. per case, there seems to be 'prima facie evidence that 

 some serious deficiency, arising either from bad cultivation 

 or careless or dishonest shipment, in connection with 

 Tasmanian exports, must have existed, which calls for 

 examination and future immediate remedy if your fruit 

 trade is to prosper as it should. I think you will find that 

 the reports of your Agent-General and others interested in 

 the matter point to the conclusion that these faults did exist, 

 and that your producers and exporters had only reaped what 

 they had sown, and had only themselves to blame for such 

 a deplorable state of affairs, which must eventually lead to 

 the loss of your English and other markets. 



What such a lamentable occurrence v/ould mean to Tas- 

 mania, the following statement, taken from figures compiled 

 by your well-known Statistician, Mr. R. M. Johnston, will 

 give you some idea : — 



In his report the vahie of the fruit export for 1900 from 

 Tasmania is estimated at about X2 79,98^. a very cOY*Tiderable 



