FRUIT TRADE

Evening Star, Issue 22379, 1 July 1936, Page 5

FRUIT TRADE

RETAILERS' ASSOCIATION FIRST ANNUAL MEETING The Otago Retail Fruiterers’ Association Held its annual meeting in the Chamber of .Commerce rooms last evening. The president (Mr T. E. Sagar) was in the chair, and there was a representative gathering of members. The Secretary submitted the annual report of the association as follows: “ TKe executive has pleasure in submitting its first annual report on the association’s activities since its inception. It desires to congratulate members on the success achieved during the initial year of the association’s existence and in the formation of a strong organisation which should be a great advantage to the trade. As a result of meetings with the Brokers’ Association certain anomalies were removed andl concessions in the way of increased credits were gained. It is to be regretted that after three months of satisfactory trading without a case charge the brokers deemed it advisable to reverse their previous decision and again charge for cases. Some growers, doubtless have deceived thein/selves into believing that they have gained something as a result, but we firmly believe that common sense will ultimately prevail andl the growers will see the wisdom of abolishing this'bone of contention.

“We regret that our efforts to establish better relations between retailer and grower have not been very successful, .but the responsibility for this must be borne by those interested parties who have consistently been working in the opposite direction. Full success in the industry will not be attained until this co-operation is achieved, and we still hope that this will be brought about. Thei embargo on Australian fruit has been \he constant concern of the executive, and a great deal of work has been devoted to this question. While it is pleasing to receive increased allotments of South Australian oranges, we are hopeful that the main goal of the total removal of the embargo will yet he realised. During the recent acute shortage it was deemed advisable for the association to procure a supply of navels from Auckland, and these were ditributed among members. It is not at present intended to include trading as an association activity, and this action was rendered necessary only by the inaction of the local brokers in assuring a reasonable supply. “ Further grounds for satisfaction exist in the linking up of kindred organisations in other centres into the South Island Fruit Retailers’ Federation, and we feel that the time and expense entailed have been fully justified. Close co-operation has also been maintained with the North Island organisations. “The association was asked to submit evidence before the Cook Islands Fruit Commission, and the secretary visited Wellington for that purpose. We feel sure the constructive criticism as submitted by him would be appreciated by the commission, and its findings are awaited with 1 interest. As a result of representations made to the Prime Minister, the Government has decided to set up a Commission of Inquiry on all matters affecting the fruit industry, and we confidently hope that its findings will result in a betterment of all sections of the industry. “ On the financial side it is satisfactory to report that, in spite of heavy expenditure, the year’s operations concluded with a small credit balance.” The report was adopted. The following officers were elected: — President, Mr T. E. Sagar; vice-presi-dent, Mr Wing On; secretary, Mr H. A, Newall; Executive Committee — Messrs F. Ellis, A. Steel, A. J. Hinton, W. Wing, N. Bing, W. Tong, and Sing Wah. There was a discussion on the association’s attitude ip connection with the fruit inquiry which has been set up by the Government, and the executive was empowered to submit evidence. It was unanimously decided to urge the Government to lift the embargo on, Australian fruit in order to make available here the cheap supplies which were on the market in Australia!