The Policy and Principles of the Walker Fruit Farms
INTERVIEW WITH MR ARTHUR WALKER.
That Scheme seems to savour of Co-operation?
Unquestionably, but I maintain that the above-mentioned policy is the true and correct rendering of co-operation, and, moreover, I am convinced that for real success to be achieved any Land Development Company must be prepared to sink or swim with the settler. There are, of course, certain obstacles and difficulties against which the intending settler should be warned. For example, it has been proved over and over again, in the annals of Land Settlement in South Africa, that it is very difficult for any farmer or settler to make a success, or do well, in an isolated area, for whether he likes the idea or not, under such circumstances, he has become, in every sense of the word, an agricultural pioneer. Take down the map of the Transvaal, and in almost every direction you can trace the disastrous result of these isolated or pioneering experiments in Land Settlement, both under Government auspices and with private Companies. The result of my own experience is that one cannot recommend too much caution in the taking up of land. The pitfalls are many, and often totally unexpected. And the only practical way to acquire a farm or ready-made holding is for the prospective settler to have as many ocular demonstrations as possible regarding the suitability and productivity, or otherwise, of the land he proposes to purchase.
You believe then in Community Settlement in any Land Development Scheme?
Certainly, that is one of the salient features of the Walker Fruit Farms. The settler must be associated with others. Co-operation if carried out proerly, is a sound principle of modern farming, but I would emphasise the wordproperly as one so seldom, I regret to say, sees a Land Development Concern carried out on correct co-operative and business-like lines. As I have said, it is over quarter of a century since I started to take an active interest in Land Development, and the principles that I then laid down for my own guidance have proved satisfactory to all concerned, as well as a source of pride and pleasure to myself and my associates in this work. On our fruit farms one sees the above policy in practical operation with the result that, while we have reserved an area for the Walkers Fruit Farms comprising some 60,000 fruit trees, we have also planted out approximately the same number of trees for our settlers. This supports my contention that the Land Development Company should do for themselves that which they advise should be done by their clients as regards all cultural operations, as well as in the sale and disposal of their farm or orchard products on a profit-making, commercial basis, and also in the building up of numerous side-lines and by-products all of which can be seen today in active operation on the Walker Fruit Farms.
What about the export of fruit from your property?
That is a point I was just going to speak about. At the present time we are exporting fruit by every boat going to India and the results have been highly satisfactory. The only drawback we have found has been the limited amount of refrigerating space on board the steamers plying between this country and India, and I am hoping that the Steamship Companies will realise the necessity of encouraging the Export Fruit Trade with India, and construct, without delay, additional storage space for our South African fruit.
One word more. I have often heard it said that the best of our fruit goes overseas, and that anything left over is considered good enough for the local market. Well, all I can say is that any fruit grower neglecting the local market, and selling inferior fruit is simply doing himself and his Company irreparable harm. As for my own Company, I may perhaps add that the Dining Cars of the South African Railways are supplied from the Walker Fruit Farms and this pile of "Repeat Orders" lying on this desk is ample evidence that the fruit that we are now supplying locally to the Catering Department of the S.A.R., as well as to the critical and highly intelligent travelling public, is meeting with their approval and that, we consider, is a clear proof that in the pst we have been working upon clear proof that in the past we have been working upon right lines as regards the "Policy and Principles of Land Development" in connection with the Walker Fruit Farms.
