FRUITGROWING.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18634, 8 March 1926, Page 4

FRUITGROWING.

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. The Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association mot on Saturday night. ,M r W. Freeman presided. A letter was received from the Railway Traffic Manager, Mr Pope, stating thjt ro goods could be -transported during- Easter, between Thursday *nd Monday. Mr W. 'Bucktm suggested that goods should be taken on the first express. Another member stated that the Railway Department jwaa going back, and did not give the same service as in previous years; noi; did not give the fruitgrowers as much assistance as it could,' Mr 8.. H. May said the. goods cbould be taken- a» far as Oamaru by the first express, and then on to. Dunedin by a slow tram. The goods would' arrive in ample time for the Sale. * A motion, proposed by Mr Eoberts, was passed that a, deputation should interview the Minister of .Railways concerning the transportation of fruit. Mr Bucktin stated that the tomato-growers were not getting a fair deal. When their fruit was reedy, about November and December, it was found that the market was flooded with Island, tomatoes, which were sold lor about 3d or lOd a lb. Thus the hothouse growers were compelled to sell at a very great loss. He suggested that the Government ehould place an embargo on tho Cook Island tomatoes between the months of November and December. He stated that it'was impossible for the growers to compete against the cheap black labour used in the Islands. Messrs Buddo, Lyons, and 2). Sullivan, M.P.'s, were asked to approach the Government regarding the embargo. Mr Buddo stated that if any scheme was placed before them, they would approach the Government concerning the matter, although he did not think that the Government would prohibit the importation of tho Island tomatoes. Mr Lyons stated that the only way in which the importation would bo stopped was to prove that these imports were bringing fresh diseases into the country. Mr Sullivan agreed with his colleagues that the problem' was & difficult one. The argument that Eeemcd best to him was that the labour used in the Islands was cheap black labour. Mr May proposed that all the Fruitgrowers' Associations in Kew Zealand should b#; asked to support the Canterbury Association in its attitude.