FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17296, 7 November 1921, Page 4

FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

monthly meeting. The monthly meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowew" Association■■'was held on Saturday night, Mr F. JV. Cone presiding. The chaiasnan referred to the new Poisons Bill, which, he said l would seriously affect orchardists. Tho Nurserymen's Association were protesting against the provisions of the Bill, and desired. the co-operation of the Fruitgrowers' Association in the protest. Mr J. Longton «eid the Fruitgrowers' As. soci&tion had combined with the merchants to protest against the Bill. He felt *ur* that exemptions would be made in'respect of •pray* and dips. It was decided to co-operate with the other parties in protesting .against the provision* objected .' Mr J. Longton proposed a motion to the effect that as the Government had placed a 35 per cent, duty on fruit trees the Association hoped that the present embargo on the admission of fruit trees to the Dominion would be removed. Mr Longton said that as long as there waa a complete embargo the fruitgrowers would be under the heel of the nurserymen for all time. The reason for tho embargo, root knot, no longer operated. The motion waa carried. Regarding the present orchard tax- of Is per acre, the chairman said, a request had bean made to the Minister to abolish tho tax. He considered, however, that the tax should bo continued. It was agreed to endorse the Minister's proposal to renew tho orchard tax for another five years. , Mr J. Longton asked the meeting- to endorse the continuance by the Government of the penny a pound guarantee in connexion with the export of fruit. The confinu&nco of that guarantee, he eaid, would bo of great vslue to the Federation in arranging for the shipment of fruit. A motion on the lines of Mr Longton's suggestion was carried, and it wsa decided to forward the resolution to the Minister of Agriculture.. The question of charging, or not, fcf oases on tho aale of fruit was discussed at length, and it was decided to eet up sectional committees to approach tho growers in the different districts in an endeavour to secure a general decision to chajrge for case*.