CENTRAL OTAGO FRUITGROWERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2675, 21 July 1913, Page 5

CENTRAL OTAGO FRUITGROWERS’ ASSOCIATION.

The 'monthly meeting of the above was held in the Alexandra Library on Saturday afternoon. Mr S. Stevens presided and some 25 members were present. The chairman outlined what had been done by the sub-committee in regard to the proposed co-operative company and slated that further action would be deferred until it had been ascertained what altitude the Roxburgh growers would' adopt. He also intimated that together with Mr A, Davidson he had agreed to Mr \V. G. Somerville interviewing the Minister of Customs on behalf of the Association in order to secure a remission of the duly on wrapping paper. Communications from Mr Goodwin and Thos, Paterson and Co. in regard to the adoption of standard cases and crates led to the appointment of a subcommittee, consisting of Messrs S. Stevens, Annan, Bringans, Davidson, Kitto, Gadd and Iversen, to go into the matter Seven new members were proposed and as one of these was not a fruitgrower 'some discussion ensued as to whether he should be admitted or not. Mr J. Wing moved and Mr Gadd seconded a motion that all persons actually engaged in the industry should only be admitted as honorary members but eventually an amendment by Messrs Davidson and Lowe that a sub-com-mittee be appointed to amend the regulations, was carried, The general feeling of the meeting was that such persons should only be admitted as honorary members and should have no vote in questions affecting the financial side of the industry. The sub-com-mittee appointed consisted of Messrs Davidson, Annan, J. Wing, Kinnaird and the chairman and secretary Reference was made to the existence of San Jose scale in Clyde and Alexandra. and also to the dilatoriness of the Department’s officers In taking steps to eradicate this pest, and it was decided to Immediately wire to the Instructor for the district expressing the indignation of the Association at the delay. On the motion of Mr Bringans the secretary was instructed to forward a letter of thanks to the Agricultural Department for the pruning demonstrations given by Mr Gocdwin on the previous day Mr Kinnaird suggested that a branch of the Association should be formed at Cromwell or Lowburn. There were several members there at present but It was necessary to bring all the growers there into closer touch, especially with the proposed cooperative association in view. It was decided that the President should act in the matter and if possible meet the growers of that district at an early date. The following remits to the annual conference at Wellington were agreed to : 1 That all cases leaving the orchard be charged for. _> That all the Fruit-growing Associations throughout the Dominion should be amalgamated. 3 That the railway tariff on fruit case timber be revised. I That an analysis of all spraying compounds placed on the market should be supplied to users. Mr Dick's paper “Backwards and Forwards’’ was then read by the secretary. The writer advocated the more extensive planting of nut trees of all descriptions and particularly so as part of the Government afforestation scheme. After some little discussion on the merits of different varieties Mr Dick was accorded a hearty vote ol thanks in the customary manner. The question of artiliicial manures for orchard use was discussed at some length and eventualhjthe secretary was instructed to write to the Agricultural Department for the analyses of samples of soils that had been taken from different localities. The meeting closed with customary vote to the chair.