OTAGO ORCHARDISTS

Evening Star, Issue 23310, 5 July 1939, Page 5

OTAGO ORCHARDISTS

CONFERENCE AT ROXBURGH REVIEW OF THE YEAR REMITS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY EFFECT OF SHOP ASSISTANTS’ AWARD That a constructive sales policy is necessary to cope with increased production is the belief of the Ota<p Re- : tail Fruiterers’ Association, and with this in mind it enlisted the aid of the Xew Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Association at the Otago Provincial Conference to oppose the demands incorporated in th© proposed Dominion Shop Assistants Award. The conference was held on Monday at Roxburgh, and Mr R- S. Kiunaird (Earnscleugh) occupied the chair. Associated with Air Kiunaird, who is the Otago member of the directorate of the federation, were Mr T. C. Brash, president of the federation, Mr W. T. Goodwin, assistant director ot the Horticultural Division, Department of Agriculture, Mr A. Osborne, general manager of the federation in New Zealand, and Mr F. G. Duncan, representative for Canterbury and Otago on the Fruit Export Board. Air H. A. Newall, secretary of the Retail Fruiterers’ Association, wrote stating that under the terms of the proposed award, fruit shops would have to lie closed at 6 p.m. on four nights of the week, at 9 p.m. on Fridays, and at noon on Saturdays. In the opinion of the association, this drastio_ curtailment would result in the restriction by approximately 50 per cent, of sales of fruit. The effect of this throughout the Dominion must seriously curtail the consumption of fruit and adversely affect prices. The association believed that constructive sales were necessary to cope with increased production, and it was to be hoped that fruitgrowers would oppose the demands. The association considered that a motion of protest from the Otago Fruitgrowers Association, forwarded to the Ministers of Agriculture, Marketing, and Labour would achieve the desired result. The Chairman said that in Wellington fruit shops had, for a time, been compelled to close at 5 p.m., but as a result of representations by the retailers, who pointed out that the bulk or their business was done between o and 6.30 p.m., the hours were extended. After a brief discussion, it was decided that the following resolution should be submitted to the annual conference l of the New Zealand rederation ; “ Its attention having been drawn to the proposed Dominion Shop Assistants’ award, which, if put into effect, would greatly curtail the hours in which fruit can he sold by retailers, this conference would urgently protest against such curtailment. Fruit is a perishable article, a fact which is recognised all over the world, and in consequence it can be sold during hours when there is little sale for other commodities. It is estimated that the curtailment of hours as suggested by the proposed award would reduce sales very considerably. The lot of the fruitgrowers is already sufficiently precarious, and such action would greatly accentuate the position. Further, the closing hours, by reducing the working time, would jeopardise the position of assistants employed in fruit'"shops.”' WORK OF CONFERENCE. The following delegates were present:—Messrs R. Forrest, J. R. Laing, J. Davidson, and O Wilson (Clyde), G. N. Campbell, G. D. Taylor, N. H. Hinton, R. A. Kinnaird, R. L. Alatluas, L. Meiklejohn, C. APGinnis (Earnscleugh), H. Webb, P. AI. Mooney, T. K. S. Sidey (Upper Clutha), G. B. Gilmonr, J. George, J. H. Waigth (Teviot), J Stronach, J. Hainsworth (Ettnck) and A. M‘Donald (Taieri). Messrs E. Finder, F. Bennetts, W. Alanuel, W. G. APGonigal, and W. B. Kenworthy representing the Co-operative Fruitof Otago Ltd., were also present. One hundred and fifty remits from throughout the Dominion for submission to the annual conference of the federation next month were considered during the day and while many of these received the support of the conference, there were a number, concerning only the associations which framed them, which were left for the Dominion Conference to deal with, Mr Kinnaird extended a welcome to | the delegates and expressed especial pleasure at the presence of Air Brash, who, he said, during the 16 years he had held the office of president of the federation, had given valued service in the cause of the fruit industry in New Zealand. REMITS CONSIDERED. A Alotueka remit —“ That the Department of Agriculture be requested to make it compulsory for all wholesale fruit buyers to have a registered number, which number it should < be compulsory to have placed at the time of purchase on every ease sold by the producer,” was approved. “ That cool store facilities be provided by the Government in the principal fruit areas of Otago in terms of the report of the commission of January, 1937,” was by Mr Waigth on behalf of the Teviot Association and was approved. Air Waigth also brought forward the following remit on behalf of Earnscleugh :—“ As it is contended that all North Island markets can be supplied with Otago stone fruits (apricots in particular) provided that the necessary pre-cooling facilities are established at the points of shipment, that every assistance be tendered to the Otago growers in their endeavour to have these necessary arrangements carried out.” It was decided to support this remit also. A remit—“ That fruit and temperature in cool stores be periodically examined by the fruit inspectors to ensure fruit being kept at a reasonable temperature ” —was introduced on behalf of Upper Clutha by Air Alooney and approved. FRUIT CONTAINERS. On behalf of the Ettrick Association Air Hainsworth submitted the following remit;—“That all case timber be cut according to specification and submitted to Government inspection at the mill.” - -Approved. The following remit was forwarded by the Henderson Association :—“ That, owing to the high cost of fruit cases, the department, be urged to go into the question of having them made from cardboard.”—lt was decided to leave the remit open. A remit urging “ that the present local market case be retained,” which was submitted by the Loburn Association, was approved. Remits from the Upper Clutha and Clyde Associations urging that a 7 x 7 x i.B case be the standard case for pears were approved, but u recommendation by the Teviot Association that cherry , cases in future should be 3in in depth and IGiu in length was opposed.

MISCELLANEOUS. For the Teviot Association, Mr Georg© brought forward the following remit, which was supported:—“That the federation approach the Union Steam Ship Company to ensure an uninterrupted freight service of fruit from the South Island to the North Island during the currency of the Exhibition.” It was agreed to oppose a remit from the Alarlborough Association urging that the extra cost of printed paper as against plain was not warranted. The remit—“ That the fruit industry Join with other primary industries in the formation of a Dominion federation of all iprimary producers ” came from the Teviot Association, and was approved. 5 Mr Gilmour introduced the following • remit for the Teviot Association: — ■ ‘‘ That in view of the limitations of the 1 canneries in the Dominion to deal with 1 the fruit available, the Internal Mar--1 keting Board he asked to investigate ' the position and take such steps as may ’ bo necessary to have canning facilities increased to cope with the fruit avail--1 able.”—The remit was supported, PRICE-FIXING TRIBUNAL. Nineteen remits from various associations throughout New Zealand, dealing ; with marketing, were submitted to the , conference, which considered that they could adequately be covered by a remit ' which read as follows:—“That this conference supports the appeal that in the event of the Government taking over pip fruits under the guaranteed price plan, a price-fixing tribunal be set up consisting of three representatives of the growers, three Government | appointees, and an independent chair- [ man.” The remit was unanimously approved. CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION, On the motion of Air Hainsworth. seconded! by Mr Webb, it was decided the make a strong recommendation to i the Dominion conference that .the question of the display of New Zealand fruit at the Centennial Exhibition to be held under the auspices of the federation be reopened, and that a provincial display be included with such display, in addition to selling rights, if possible. MARKETING REGULATIONS. In respect of local marketing regulations, the following remits were passed for submission to the Dominion Conference : “ That in view of the very high cost of production the Government be asked not to bring in any new regulations without reference to the associations.” “ That conference request that the regulations relating to export and local marketing of pip fruit be made available at the earliest, possible opportunity.” “ That in order to reduce to a minimum overhead costs in connection with the distribution of pip. fruits the Internal Marketing Department co-opt the services of the Dominion-wide organisation of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation.” “ That packing regulations remain as at present ” OTHER REMITS. It was decided to approve a remit from the Alotueka Association —“ That a be_ made drawing attention to the injustice of taxing the farmer, under the Social Security Act. on produce ‘ produced solely for his own domestic consumption!” The Upper Clutha Association brought forward a remit—“ That orchardists’ lorries be exempt from heavy traffic fees.”—The remit was approved. A remit from the Teviot Association —“ That retailers be compelled, in displaying fruit to the public, to mark variety, grade, and size of all fruit covered by grading regulations ” —was approved. Four remits, all asking that the Government be urged to find methods for dealing with fruit below commercial grade, were agreed to, Tim following remit from the Ettrick Association was approved ;—“ That growers demand from the Government conditions which will ensure them a reasonable standard of living.” DELEGATES APPOINTED. -Messrs Taylor, Webb, George, and Hainsworth were appointed delegates to the forthcoming conference of the federation. REVIEW OF THE YEAR ADDRESS BY MR T. C. BRASH A talk by Air T. C. Brash, president of the federation, outlined the steps that are being taken to solve the difficulties of the fruitgrower. Referring to the season just past, the speaker expressed his sympathy with those districts which had experienced trouble with frosts, droughts, and all th© other worries of the fruit grower. Speaking generally, the ■ season had not been a good one. The total exports from the Dominion had fallen considerably, and prices on the London market were not high, although the quality of the fruit had been, excellent and it had carried to the overseas markets in good condition. The Fruit Board was doing everything possible to find new markets, and at the present time fruit was being exported not only to the United Kingdom, but also to France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Canada, the West Indies, and many parts of the East, such as Java, India, and ChinaOn the local market, Air Brash said, prices were higher, but supplies were much lower, and it was unfortunate that there was now no subsidy granted on fruit sold on the local market. For the previous two years there had been a subsidy to assist orchardists to pay a higher scale of wages for shorter hours than in any other primary industry, but, although these wages were still in force, the subsidy had ceased. Air. Brash went on to speak of the committee which had been set up to investigate the possibility of establishing a formula under which the Government, if it _so decided, could take over the marketing of pip fruits under the guaranteed price scheme. In the meantime no decision to take such action had been reached, and, as one question of vital importance was a correct assessment of cost of production, evidence on this matter had been collected by the federation’s officers. BENEFITS OF FEDERATION. Dealing briefly with the operations of the federation, Mr Brash congratulated the management and the members of the staff on having shown a turnover of £200,000. This was slightly lower than th© figures for the previous year, when there had been a bumper crop, demanding an increased supply of packing materials in which the federation traded. It was pleasing to note that the Otago branch the headquarters of which had been transferred to Roxburgh during the year, had shown a steady increase in business in the past i three years, and on this fact the branch manager (Air G. O. Charlton), and bis staff were to be complimented. The financial position of the federation was sound, and full provision had been made

for depreciation, bad debts, and other contingencies. _ The federation now worked on the basis of rebates to growers through a percentage off goods purchased, Mr Brash said, and since the inception of the plan £16,600 had been allocated in this way. Import restrictions had undoubtedly increased the difficulties of trading,'although some years ago the directors had adopted a policy of; procuring everything possible in New Zea land. The objective of. the. federation was to serve the industry in every way possible, and the staff and organisation were always available to give help where necessary. '