THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14988, 8 June 1914, Page 5

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

CANTERBURY FRUITGROWERS' ; ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Canterbury fruitgrowers' Association was held on Saturday night, when Mr F. Sisson, president of the Association, was in tho chair. There was a good attendance- of members. r Mr E. G. Symon was elected a member of the Association. The annual roport stated that regular meetings of the comraitteo had been heldt hroughout the year, in addition to sub-committee meetings. Important matters had been dealt with, amongst these being the question of a tax on orchards, export of apples to South America, proposal to muke the Association a trading concern, national apple show, and the-Panama Exposition. Lectures nnd addresses had been given under tho auspices of the Association, and a deputation had waited on the Minister for Railways with reference to the carriage of "shucks" and asking for rebates. The thanks of the Association were specially due to those ladies and gentlemen who had "given lectures and addresses for the benefit of fruitgrowers. Reference was mado to the exchanging of visits with orchardists in neighbouring districts, and a satisfactory feature of the year was stated to be the increase of new members by twenty, making the present roll number close on 100. Special mention was made of the servicee rendered to the Association by Mr W. J. Courtier, Government expert, "his energy and his exertions in generally forwarding the affairs of the Association" being warmly eulogised. . Tho balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £9 12s 4d, with receipts £37 7s 2d, and expenditure £27 Sg 10d. In moving the adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, the chairman said financially the Association was in a very healthy state. He recognised that to do good the members mnet be enerReticin exchanging experiences and discussing improved methods of fruit culture. Next year, ho would like to see a. continuance of those keen debates on pruning, spraying, etc., which had been a feature of the meetings held somo years ago. The Association would then have something tangible to offer new members and especially young fruitgrowers. . Mr H. E. Morgan, in seconding the motion, criticised an item in the bal-ance-sheet— outstanding subscriptions £18 10s. , Offisers were elected as follows:—President Mr F. Sisson; vice-presidents, Messrs W Roy and S. I. Fitch-, committee, Messrs H. E. Morgan C. P. Taylor, F. King. J. W. Shields. J. Longton, F. P. Beckett and E. Freoraan. , , Votes of thanks were passed to tho secretary (Mr A. Mehrtens) Mr W J. Courtier, the Government Orchardist Instructor, and Mr S. J. Shields.