FRUITGROWERS IN AUCKLAND

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 74, 28 March 1914, Page 5

FRUITGROWERS IN AUCKLAND

CONTROL OF EXPORT TRADE. (IT TILIQIUPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, 27th March. A large meeting of district fruitgrowers was held here to-day to decide on some method of extending their organisation, and marketing their fruit more effectively. """ Mr. J. B. Tonar, manager of the Waitemata Fruitgrowers' Association, pointed out that the majority of the fruit-growing districts had local associations, but it was difficult to keep them active unless they attached themselves to some kindred body. He suggested, among other things, that the executive could deal with the questions of uniform systems of grading and packing, control over shipping space, the opening up of new markets, additional powers of the Agricultural Department to prevent the exportation of fruit that would - not reacn its destination in satisfactory order, cool storage space in a glut of Ihe season, and Che removal of the wrapping paper duty. They were not there to discuss the failure of the New Zealand Federation, but he could not understand why no consideration had ever been given to a feasible proposal made by Mr. Allan Wilson, which would ultimately be a solution — namely, that each centre should work out its own system of organisation, and the centres Should then federate. The only two ways which he could see of running a Northern Federation were: — (1) By means of a new organisation with a depot In Auckland, and an executive with a permanent secretary, or (2) by making use of tne Waitemata. Society. He are*- attention to what he described as the foundation -stone of the industry, namely, grading and packing on practical lines by means of the employment of competent men who would work under the control of the executive. Should they decide against securing the control of the packing, he couM only see one alternative, namely, the middleman must step in to this important branch of business and control the export trade.