FRUIT INDUSTRY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVII, Issue 9986, 26 January 1929, Page 3

FRUIT INDUSTRY

CONFERENCE WITH GROWERS NEED FOB CO-OPERATION. The first inerting of the nowly.ferm. ed I),amnion Council of Tomato, Soft Fruit and Produce Growers Ltd. was hold in the Dominion Fanners' Insli. lute Building.-, at Wellington on Wed. nesday. Tlie objects of tile council are to cii. gage in any business dealing witli the industry or any enterprise calculated in extend the interest of allilialcd organisations, and to ad as the organised mouthpiece of the growers and pro. diii-ers of New Zealand. It also seeks to secure affiliation with the councils of all existing associations having simi. tar objects amt to assist in the promo, lion of the industry where inducement offers. In addition, it aims to take the necessary steps to secure the alliliafion of the council with I tic Zealand Fruit Growci's' Federation. Ltd. The conference, - which was opened by Mr T. G. Brash, president of the Wellington Fruitgrowers’ Fcde' alii ill. \\a s attended by delegates from the five associations of growers and producers in New Zealand—-Christchurch. Auckland Nelson. Bay Mew (Napier), and Valley. "j After the preliminary formalities m. lached to the formation of a council had been attended to, the election of officers and executive olllccrs took place, the following being appointed: President. Mr C. K. Pope (Christchurch): vice, president. Mr D. D. Robertson (Unit Valley): secretary, Mr If. Finnan (Ghrislrfinreli): executive commit Ice, Messrs G. .1. Baxter (Nelson). W. E. Saunders (Bay View). G. E. Given (Auckland). The conference i raised the suggested rules of the constitution, and discussed affairs of finance and revenue. Remits were also discussed, lint owing to Hie pressure of rime it was agreed to let mailers stand over until the resumption of the (orifereive on Thursday. As ho would l>e unable to attend the conference on Thursday. Mr W. A. ■pale a director of the New Zealand Fruit Growers' Federation, and one of the prime movers in the formation of the council, impressed upon those pres, cut the necessity for union. He said that foreign competition had of late become very serious, and. il no action were taken, il would only be a very short lime before the whole industry was wiiicd out. This was one of the main masons why lie had been so in. terested in (tie formation of a council, ami now that this had been achieved, unity was essential fur its succesdul working. Mr F. Cone, also a director of the New Zealaial Fruit Growers’ Federation, spoke along much the same lines. In a country like New; Zealand, lie said, ||jere was absolutely no necessity for importations of foreign fruit.