Interview with Howard Hinton

Howard Hinton was born in Dunedin in 1921. Describes how his grandfather, Howard Hinton, had a jam factory called Stellar Jams, in south Dunedin. Mentions that his father met his mother when they both worked there. Discusses how his grandfather bought orchard land in Earnscleugh in 1911 to provide fruit for the jam factory and his parents moved up to establish the orchard probably about 1920. Describes their trip which took twenty four hours from Dunedin to Alexandra in a Model T. Mentions his father trained at Annan's orchard.

Describes how extra land was acquired over the years and the various blocks held. Mentions that he and two brothers, Ken and Grenville, were away during World War II and his father bought land for them. Mentions that the orchard in the Cromwell Gorge was lost as a result of the Clyde dam. Comments on soil and availability of water for irrigation as a result of the construction of the Fraser Dam during the Depression. Notes that the Earnscleugh Irrigation Company now operates this. Explains that the sprinklers used for frost fighting are the same ones used for irrigation. Describes how his father was the first orchardist to plant his orchard in grass rather than cultivate it.

Talks about growing cherries, pears, plums, apricots, nectarines, peaches and apples. Discusses pruning, picking techniques and spraying including lack of protective clothing in the early days of spraying. Describes how fruit is no longer handled as much as in the days of hand grading. Describes leaving school during the Depression to work on the orchard. Recalls that his father and a land girl maintained the orchard during World War II while he and his brothers were overseas. Comments on the changing role of women in orcharding. Describes how his mother cooked for staff, worked in the packing shed and looked after eight children but was not involved in decision-making. Discusses the role of his daughter-in-law in decision-making and running the packing and export operation.

Talks about working on the orchard as a child and mentions that his children and some grandchildren have worked on the orchard. Notes that his son Nigel Hinton is in charge and his grandson, who has qualified in Business Management, works for the orchard. Mentions that there is a permanent staff of about nine and seventy temporary staff during the picking season.

Discusses new varieties of apricot including Clutha Gold, Clutha Sun and Clutha Late. Talks about varieties of other fruit and the role of the consumer in helping determine varieties planted. Discusses supply by nurseries in Nelson, Palmerston North and Hamilton. Describes the old system of dispatching fruit by private order. Discusses old and new ways of packing fruit. Describes the use of cool stores mainly for apples. Mentions that 90% of their market is the export market, including the Middle East and Asia, and the smaller orchards supply locally. Discusses the formation by Nigel Hinton and others of Clutha Valley Exports, a syndicate of growers, which has been very successful in Asia. Comments that technology has improved operations but frost is sill a problem.

Interviewer(s) - Janis Morgan

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-008557 - OHC-008559

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2664.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-009241 - OHLC-009243