FRUIT RESEARCH GRANTS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20937, 18 August 1933, Page 10

FRUIT RESEARCH GRANTS

CAWTHRON INSTITUTE

ATTITUDE OF THE GROWERS

Although the Cawthron Institute is in need of funds, the Canterbury provincial conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation decided last evening that it could not agree to a grant to this organisation without a full investigation into the question whether financial help would be of permanent value. The question arose when the conference considered a proposal by the Henderson Fruitgrowers' Association that the Dominion conference of the federation seriously consider making a substantial .grant to the institute. , , , Mr J. W. McLood said the federation should consider the question seriously before deciding to make any grant. The federation was a trading concern working in opposition to private firms, and it could not give such i grants unless private competitors did likewise, for these competitors would benefit from the results of any research. The federation could subsidise other grants pound for pound, but It could not act alone and deplete its resources for the benefit of others. Mr C. T. Brash, president of the federation, said the Cawthron Institute was having a difficult time finan--1 cially, largely because its trust funds i were to a great extent invested in land or lent on land securities. The institute had approached the Dairy and Meat Boards and the Farmers' Union for financial help, but these organisations had decided that they could not I help until the question had been in'veatigated thoroughly to see if there I were any chance of rehabilitating tho institute's finances permanently. If I temporary relief only were required, the exporters and farmers thought ! they should help, but not if it merely meant throwing good money after bad. A, committee representative of these organisations had been set up to see ,if temporary assistance would lead to the permanent re-establishment of the I institute's funds. Mr Brash said he I did not think the federation should pass any such grants without first cooperating with the other organisations concerned. It was decided to allow the provin- ! cial delegates to the conference to I vote as they thought best.