Fruitgrowers’ Council

Evening Star, Issue 20052, 18 December 1928, Page 9

Fruitgrowers’ Council

RECORD EXPORT SEASON ,ftW PRICES LOCALLY STILL MORE EXPORT NEEDED. Mr E. C. Reynolds presided at the fifth annual meeting of the . Otago Provinciai Fruitgrowers' Council, which . was held at Roxburgh on Saturday. Every fruitgrowing association in Otago was represented, and Mr 11. E. Napier (manager of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Association) was also present. The annual report of the council stated, inter alia:— The committee is pleased to be able to congratulate members upon another record season in regard to quantity exported, but at’ the same time it is to be Regretted that the range of prices was so much below the previous season’s figures. While it couid not be expected that the record prices of 1927 would be maintained! tnc results were diaappomting, as at .least 2s pei case more than 11128 prices will bo required to make apple export a sound and profitable business. At the same time it is obvious that more, rather than less, apples must be sent overseas, as even with over 80,000 cases sent overseas luring the past season, the quantity remaining for local, markets has been sufficient to cause a glut, with correoporidingly low and unpayable prices. Even with an expoi". of over 1,000,000 cases from the north, there has been a surplus which has caused even more lisastrous local prices than those experienced in Otago. In the meantime, and’ especially until the proposal to standardise grades ior local markets takes practical shape, apple growers must recognise that still greater quantities must be exported. Those growers who.; have been in the habit of holding off export with a mistaken idea of exploiting the local markets, must have had a rude shock this season, and it is to be hoped that they, too, will next season shoulder their share of responsibility and export, no matter how modest the quantities. The total shipments handled by the council since its inception have been us follows:—l924, 40,113 cases; 1925, 36,463 cases: 1926, 68,216 cases; 1927, 36,828 cases; 1928. 73,023 cases. The quantities snipped from the various districts were as follows :—Cromwell, 4,873 cases; Clyde-Alexandra, comprising Pruitlands, Alexandra, Earnscleugh, Clyde, 7,311 cases; Miller’s Flat, comprising Roxburgh, Dumbarton, Miller’s ( Flat, Island ■ Block, 60,482 cases; Taieri, 357 cases; total, 73,023 The committee has again been successful in having all the main shipments made at Port Chalmers, but although this is a decided , advantage, the absence of facilities in the way of shed accommodation for assembling the fruit, presents a serious problem. It is hoped that with the purchase of the railway wharf at Port Chalmers some improvement will be made, and in the meantime the council is co-operating with the Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers’ Association, and others in an endeavour to influence a complete review of the matters affecting the handling of goods for both export and import. Owing to delays in arrival of steamers, shippers on more than one occasion were placed in a difficult position, and special mention should be made of the valuable assistance given by the Railways Department in overcoming serious difficulties. As a result of the decision of the Provincial Conference in June, the federation has ordered a supply of a special- printed wrap foi Otago, and there, is rto doubt this will bo a great help,in_ advertising Otago fruit as well as emphasising the fact that Otago is part of New Zealand. "COUNCIL LEVY. Owing to the - quantity handled your • committee was pleased to refund Jd per case, which has been much appreciated by shippers. As has been previously pointed out, _ the question of , service must be considered in conjunction with cost, and in this respect there can be no question as to the value of the council’s service, it is to be regretted that in some cases the council does not receive credit or remuneration for services which .extend throughout the whole year, and not only during-the shipping season. SPACE FOR NEXT SEASON. The committee 1 feels constrained to throw out a timely warning that the position in regard to shipping is likely to be jeopardised next season through causes outside the control of the council. The shipping companies have indicated their perfect satisfaction with the manner in which the whole of the export was handled by the council, but they have warned us that ■ with _ each new channel through which shipping is required, there will be complications which may make it impossible for them to meet us in the liberal manner in which they have in the past. The question of a fraction of a penny difference in shipping charge or the matter of personal: differencee must pale into insignificance beside the possibility of having our fruit left on the wharf to further glut local markets. This aspect should need no emphasising in •' view of the disastrous prices realised last season. There can be no question as to the claims of the council to the support of every fair-minded grower, as this body was brought into being at the wish of every fruitgrowers’ organisation in Otago, and it has yet to be -. shown that it has failed in its duty. It is not possible to please everybody, but when the interests of Otago as a whole are in the balance, shippers should work side by side instead of indulging in pull baker, pull devil tactics. BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet shows that the year opened with a credit balance of £2lB 19s Bd, and closed with a credit balance of £203 16s lid. It will be noted that directors’ fees have been provided, for in. the balance-sheet for the current year as resolved at last annual meeting. Items on the debit side of profit and loss show .little-variation from last season, notwithstanding the large volume of business handled. On the credit side snipping fees show an increase, due to the larger quantities handled, while sundry commissions are slightly less. The item of sundry debtors represents balances due by shippers, and will be mainly liquidated by London brok- - era’ suspense account, which represents sundry amounts received from London brokers for claims - recorded on account of frost-damaged fruit ex Corinthic, pillages, etc., but for which statements had not been completed from London to enable the amounts to be distributed to the correct shippers. This it is hoped to do early next month. ’ The retiring committee men are Messrs Reynolds, Waigth, Moodio, and Weaver, of whom Mr Reynolds does not seek re-election owing to the fact tb’at he has disposed of his interests in Fruitlands. The others are eligible, and offer themselves for re-election. ’ CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS. Tfie Chairman, in moving the adoption of,the annual report and balancesheet., said, he was reluctantly compelled to .relinquish his seat on the board of directors, as he was no longer a fruitgrower. . Speaking to _ the report, he said the Otago Provincial Fruitgrowers’ Council was established by the unanimous approval of the fruitgrowing associations. and had,done everything that was expected of it in the ,way of successfully handling the fruit and disposing of it overseas, and the charge of lid per case, as they would see, little more than squared the expenditure in-

curred, and was less than shippers in other provinces were paying. Before the council was established the Otago Fruitgrowers' Association in Dunedin undertook the duty of despatching cargoes of fruit to London, and in 1922 started, with a total of 5,000 cases, which in 1923 rose to 18,000. After that date the Otago Provincial Council was formed, and through its agency the totals of shipments to London, South America, and elsewhere amounted to the substantial figures shown in the annual report. He had had the honour to represent the council as. chairman since it was established,’ and lie could only say that a better body of men to work with he had never met in business. All wore, imbued with the desire to further tho industry for the good of the province, and in Mr Harry Turner, its secretary and manager, the council possessed a man whom it would bo hard to replace. He was wholehearted in his efforts, and had met every difficulty ns it arose in a manner which was beyond praise. It was a very difficult thing to gauge, in the first instance, what shipping would be required and when the crops would be ready for shipment at a, port,, and frequently delays occurred in delivery from orchards which must be got over by increased shipments from other directions to fill the space. Then, after the apples were shipped, the sending out of payments on account of guarantee must be promptly attended to and the final adjustment accurate and prompt. Mr Turner was specially fitted for this, ami as a member of the Executive Commit- . tco who had been in close touch will) him, he could only say that shippers were under a deep debt of gratitude to him for the way ho had handled-the whole business., It was to be regretted that shippers last year, received such poor returns for all their labours and worry, but there was every indication that tho coming year would bring good prices to every shipper in New Zealand. Tho motion was seconded by Mr O. Weaver, and carried. APPRECIATION OF SERVICES. Mr D. Leslie referred to the sterling services of tho retiring chairman in the interests of fruitgrowers and the industry generally. He had been a hard worker on the council, and he would he missed when ho vacated the office of chairman. The speaker moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Reynolds for his services. Mr A. M'Donald seconded the motion, which was , also spoken to by Messrs J. H. Waigth. jun., C. Weaver., and others, and carried by. acclamation. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. The election to fill the vacancies on the board of directors resulted in the appointment of the following;—Messrs George Moodie, J. H. Waigth, jun., Charles Weaver, and P. R. Sargood Mr Sargood was later appointed chair man of directors. Messrs M'Lean and Mirams were appointed auditors for a further term. The directors’ fees were fixed at a rate similar to that of last year. v ISLAND FRUIT TRADE. The Secretary reported in regard to the Island fruit trade that the possibility of shipping apples to Samoa had been fully investigated, but it had been found that the scheme was impracticable owing to the small consumption and tho inconvenient sailings of the Maui Pomare. STORAGE FACILITIES. ’ The lack of assembling and storage facilities at - the Dunedin wharves was also discussed, it being stated that every year shipping was more difficult on this account. Appointments such as those at Wellington were required. The secretary reported that the Harbour Board had been approached in the matter, but the chances of adequate accommodation of the sort required being :n----cluded in the programme of Improvements at the Victoria wharf seemed very remote. It was pointed out that growers were desirous of supporting their own port-, but it was also made clear that conditions might yet force them to the regrettable - course of going elsewhere. Shippers were urged to support the export and packing classes and competition provided by the Otago A. and P. Society, at the Winter Show, as these were of ■ great aluo to the trade. Tho Secretary stated that the specially printed wrappers for Otiga fruit Tor overseas ;hipmont would be ready ror the coming season, and apple exporters were urged to use them widely, since they were, invaluable in the advertising of dominion fruit overseas. NEW TYPE OF TRUCK. The question of improved types of trucks for the carriage of fruit on the railways was also considered. It was reported that in the next few weeks experiments would be carried out by the Teviot Fruitgrowers' Association with , the new type of ventilated truck recently designed by the Railways Department. The council, it was stated, was co-operating with tho department. It was hoped to have the services of Mr W. K.' Dallas as supervisor of the investigations and experiments. AUSTRALIAN MENACE. . Mr R. Kinnaird brought up the sub ject of the importation of Australia, cherries. The, speaker produced correspondence which indicated that there was a possibility of apricots and plums being added to the list of fruits brought into this country from the Commonwealth. Mr O. Weaver submitted that this was another strong argument in favour of the immediate revision of the tariff rates on the importation of dried apricots from South Africa. It was not right, ho said, that these dried fruits, which were produced, by black labour, should be introduced into New Zealand free of duty. Several other speakers spoke in the strongest terms of the menace of Australian importations to the .stone fruit industry in this country, and it was unanimously resolved that a telegram be sent to the Minister of Customs- (Mr W, B. Taverner) urging the importance of an investigation into tho position. On the motion of Mr Weaver, it was decided that letters should be sent to the new Ministers of Agriculture, Customs, and Public Works asking them to visit Otago as early in the new year as possible. CHARGES REASONABLE. The Chairman read a telegram from Mr F. G. Duncan alleging overcharging of shipping rates, and stated that the secretary desired to make a statement in regard to shipping rates and space arrangements. Mr Turner reviewed the events which led up to tho formation af the council. This body had been formed with tho consent of every fruitgrower ass-iciaton in Otago, including the Co-operative Fruitgrowers of Otago. The object at tho tune had been the concentration of shipping efforts under one management, with the, idea of facilitating the work and eliminating undue confusion consequent on the distribution of the activities among several independent shipping agencies. The scheme worked admirably until some shippers broke away from the council,-, with the result that the freight question looked like being seriously prejudiced if tho defections went on.. The council, he contended; had carried out the work or which it was formed in a satisfactory manner, and he did not think that the charge of Ij per case for shipping was, too heavy, especially in f view of the rates paid in some of the Australian States, To his mind, however, the grave question just now was not any fraction of a penny difference in cost, so much as the very present danger that, owing to lack of concentration and support, the export fruit would b© left in the country, with disastrous results as far as the growers were concerned. * Messrs Kenworthy and Weaver, representing the Co-operative Fruitgrowers of Otago, challenged some of Mr Turner's statements in regard to the undertaking entered into by their company, but Mr D, Leslie, a director; of

that association, said he could bear out Mr Turner in all he had said. ! After some discussion it was agreed that a vote of complete confidence iu the ability of the council and its secretary to carry out the work should bo passed. It was also agreed that - the shipping charge was a fair and reasonable one. THE SEASON ABROAD. Mr Napier gave tho meeting some interesting particulars of tho conditions in fruit-growing countries overseas this season. Exports from Tasmania and other States on the mainland promised to bo only a fraction of the usual production. It was! anticipated that, owing to the -poor crop on the- mainland! n great deal of the Tasmanian apple crop would not get further than Australia. Some of tho States which normally sent many thousands of cases to the London market would not be sending a case this year. This would have tho effect of making the prices for the New Zealand product better. It was estimated that the dominion crop this year would, be about 20 per cent, smaller than was the last season. Mr Napier also tolcl tho meeting that more would be done with the Continental market this year. It was hoped That it would be possible andi profitable to put the large green varieties of apples which were not wanted in Britain on to the Continental market. The meeting closed with votes of thanks to the speaker and to the chair.