DRIFTING!

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 139, 15 June 1922, Page 3

DRIFTING!

CAPITAL, HOPES, AND PROSPECTS

IS THE FRUIT-GROWING IN DUSTRY THREATENED?

Some very pointed • remarks concerning the fruit-growing industry were made by Mr. T. W. Attwood in his presidential addTsss to the delegates attending the annual conference of live New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation. He plaaded strongly for greater unity, and strongly inddct'ed members of the federation for their lack of co-operation in the past. Were the fruitgrowers satisfied: with the progress of the last six, years during which the federation had been in existence? asked Mr. Attwood. What was it that made progress so difficult, and caused th_m to lag behind while, others forged ahead. "We have our federation," he said, "the orchardl tax, our associations—which should be the very life and soul of the industry—car provincial and Dominion conferences, the Nurserymen's Association—which should be working hand in hand with the growers—and, Jast, but not least, we havei the Department and all 'its officers. The net result is confusion andi uncertainty, not to say chaos." In scarcely a single instance, he said, had the decisions of conference been regardted.' as a. binding, moral obligation on the rank and file of the industry, nor had they been carried coit, except in one or two cases. The very large majority of growers took no active interest in the federation's work. The rank and file of the organisation merely left the whole burden of progress on the shoulders of the other fellow.

PRESENT METHODS SHOULD BE

SCRAPPED.

Many of their difficulties arose from) trying to impose on 'every district conditions suitable to only one district. They had clamoured for standardisation of. boxas, and had been unable to agi-es to have it appliod, and the far more important question of improved marketing a.nd distribution was still unsolvedi. Theindiustry had reached a stage where it could not continue to live and prosper without a better system for this sale and distribution of W« produce, and complete organisation for handling and marketing its crops collectively, Th© federation) should realise its strength. Every fruitgrower should., be .a member of the association in his district, and all districts should, work together and in harmony with one another. The time was overdue for scrapping most of their methods. Not only tlie associations, but practically the whole industry, were suffering from a kind- of sleeping sickness, and the whofe of the federation's capital, hopes, and prospects were drifting. Surely threatened ruin should provide the incentive for united! action! He .urged: them to work for a bond of union of lasting value. They were paying far to much for the marketing. of their fruit, and must demand andi secure reductions in freights and' better andi more careful handling of fruit. These could, only be secured by united; action. The industry was not making sufficient use of the Department of Agriculture; the horticultural division was the fruitgrowers' greatest asset. He wanted to see the Department's officers so much in demand that the Minister would have to increase his staff. In conclusion, he appealed- to the growers from one end of the Dominion to^.tbe other to units in a bond of fellowship and brotherhood that would rnalre progress possible.

MINISTER'SIREMARKS.

The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Nosworthy), addressing the confer-' ence, assured delegates that the . Government would do all it could-' for theindustry, sc long as it was able'to give a*sist-anoi>. The Government guarantee of Id per pound had been a great help to the export trade. He did not know .how much longer the guarantee would bo continued. He did not think the Government would diecontinue it, but if tho necessity for such a curtailment should arise, ■it would not be becauss the Government was neglectful or careless of the growers',interests, but because the. financial condition warranted it. He urgecb the producers to make every preparation, so that they might be 'able to. stand, on their own ba«is. By organising efficiently, exercising dietermination, and putting their shoulders to the wheel, they would pull: thw.ighi tfte present hard, times, and find bright prospects ahead. This was the first season, in which Central Otago had entered the export trade. He was quits satisfied; that once that district was welll established' on th* market it wouldi do well in the fruit trade.