FRUIT EXPORT

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 65, 19 March 1925, Page 7

FRUIT EXPORT

CONTROL BOARD MEETS.

The fll'st meeting of the Export- Board feet up under tho Fruit Control Act Passed ksfc Beasion, was held this week. fhe i Hoa, W. ■ Nosworthy, Minister of Agriculture) in .opening the proceedings, expressed keen interest in. the progress of the industry, and assured members of the board ot' Jiia help and-sympathy in tho work that lay before them. He believed the board should do much in assisting growers .to bujhd up an everincreasing export trade that would maintain tho high standard and reputation already established in the Home markets. The cooperation and assistance of his officers \yould;always be at the.board's disposal, and he .wished members every 6Ucces«i •

Messrs. B. H. Williams, T..C, Brash, and Colonel Gray, in thanking the Minister) expreased their great appreciation of. the help he had given, not only during the passage of the .Bill, but at all timeSv / ' r ' t • Members present were:—Mr. H. S.\ Izardj representing Auckland and Tarajjiakh Mr, H* Robertson, representing Hawkes Bay and Wairurapa; Messrs. T. C> Brash and H. K. Stephens, representing Marlborough and Nekon; while Mr,'""S, H. Williams and Colonel Gray are the Government nominees. The Minister, before leaving, asked for nomination for a chairman, rand Colonel Gray Was unanimously elected. After congratulating the chairman on his appointment, the Minister was accorded a hearty vote of thanks'and withdrew. A targe number of questions were then: discussed. No alterations in the present shipping arrangement are in view, but efforts are being made to augment the space allotted for March- and early April, if this 13 possible. Negotiations are in progress with the Fruitgrowers' Federation to obtain temporarily the services of Mr. H. E. Napier for secretarial duties, and such office and accommodation and clerical work as may be required until the board has had time to go thoroughly into permanent arrangements.

A small executive,' consisting of the chairman, Mr. Brash, and Mr. Stephens, was set up to deal with various matters which would not require the attendance of all members.

The board is anxious to curtail expenses as much as possible, but a certain, amount must be incurred during the current year, a-ncl it is propor a l to make a levy on this season's fruit of a Id (one penny) per case. Arrangements for its collection were made. m It was unanimously decided to assist m every possible way the work of the refrigerating committee set up at the Dominion Conference two years ago. Arrangements were also i^ade for the systematic gathering of information on all points relating to export during the present season, which ■ill form a basis for future arrangements. The board is fully alive to certain outstanding difficulties in connection with the export of fruit on a large scale, and strong .efforts will be made to overcome these before next season. \