THE FRUIT MARKET.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13100, 27 April 1908, Page 2

THE FRUIT MARKET.

A CENTRAL DEPOT SUGGEffTED

Fruit-growing is not m r-OMU-era-tivo to tbe producer as it should be, judging by tho views expressed at the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association meeting onoatuiday evening, and this is accounted tor by the fact that practically the -nly me—is the growers have at their --munanid of coming inito touch with .ho consumer is through auctooaeer-a-t the rate of 10 per cent. _.Ir Maffey, who was unable to attend tho meeting, stated in a letter that his idea of disposing of fruit and vegetables was that they should be j sent to ono central depot. The auo-1 tions should commenoe at 6 a.m. in the summer and 7 a.m. in the winter. All produce would have to be staged overnight, the growers having an allotted place with name and brand, and all goods, in his opinion, should be sold according to quality. Mr Allington said the only "way to make- a success of fruit-growing was for tho producers to combine and launch out themselves. Things were at present in a chaotic condition- Ihey had been trying to get into direct touch with tho consumers, but it appeared tliat their efforts in that direction had been abortive. If t-iey wxjto to succeed they would just have to go ''on their own," leaving out the retailed and auctioneer. I*" this were done it would be quite possible to make a success of tine business. To him it was monstrous to feel that they had fallen into the hands of the 10 per cent auctioneer. They had to pay that fee to sell, besides losing their cases, and then the auctioneer turned round: and dictated to them to whom they were to eed_. The matter of the' cases was a very considerable item, as they cost the producer a great deal of money and he thought this expense might be spared them. The oases could be used several times at least, especially in their own town. His idea of obtaining satisfactory prioes was through the establishment of a large depot or retail shop to which all the growers should send a supply sufficient to have tho stock equal to meet tlie consumers' demands for that day, and then the prod-icer should havo the right to dispose of the balance by sending it to Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin or some suitable outside market as long as tho proposed Christchurch depot was kept in full supply. He was in earnest over this matter and if tho whole of the growers did not- support him, ho was prepared, with a number of t3io best fruitgrowers, to take the responsibility of starting a depot himself. Th© chairman (Mr Ffitch) said he could not see that euch a scheme would be a success as they (the growers) would never work together. Mr Tliornton thought that there was a want of unity among tho growers, and tho association should be established on a stronger basis. They should put their hands into tlieir pockets and employ a capable organiser and' work up the- association. The organiser could canvass round Christchurch growon. and make one final effort to place tlie association in a sound position, and then they would see what they could do. It was absurd to try to establish a retail shop. The fruit-growers would have to combine, fox the only way to meet a combine was to form one.

The Secretary (Mr Wilkinson) said ho could claim to have advocated cooperation some twelve years ago, but his idea was to go a great deal further than Mr Allington suggested. Ho would include the whole of tho Doit;.mon, giet all the producers to assist, ! and havo the various centres in touch with one another or with headquarters, and then they would be advised of the \ prices, and consequently would be able jto glace their fruit to the best _K-vajn>-tage. Mr Allington's scheme, he thought, would never give satisfaction. ] Tho Chairman, said that tho operation of the Orchard and Gardens Pest Act and other things would soon cause tho fruit-growing industry to become a monopoly, and in time it would work out its own salvation. It would fall into the hands of fewer people, who would 90on regulate the prices. If the Act was rigidly enforced it would stop a lot of the small growers, and the ! remainder would be able to dictate to the, auctioneers, instead of, as at present, rice versa. ! Mr. AJlington, in reply, said that he had no idea of such a comprehensive scheme as that outlined by the secrej tary. He wanted to protect local interests. .They could have a manager for their shop, and if there was a superfluity of produce it could be sent away. I The Chairman did not think the ! scheme would succeed except on pri- ! vato liniee. j Mr Allington said that if tho scheme did not take on, all the growors would have to meet for the purpose of discussing the advisability of selecting the place to which they should send their produce, and the firm of auctioneers whom they should employ, and the growers could then enter into a bond to take their fruit to this firm jor firms. They might then get their fruit sol-I much cheaper and receive their cases hack. After further discussion, the matter was dropiped. but witt probaWy be discussed l «t tho Conference to-mom).. evening.