H.B. FRUITGROWERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 275, 6 November 1916, Page 7

H.B. FRUITGROWERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Air. A. M. Robertson, president, presided at the monthly general meeting of the Hawke’s J&yr Fruitgrowers’ Association,..-held in. the Oddfellows’- Hall', on Saturday. The following new were elect ed : G; Downes,- Mah era .North ; E. L. Lees, Lower Hutt; D. Donovan, Pakowhai road; A. Kenyon, Riverslea road. The president read correspondence in connection with fire blight. Infected trees, he said, had been imported to Australia from Japan in large quantities, and he urged that the federation, in the interests of growers in New Zealand, should place the matter before the Government; with a view to having a law placed on the statute book prohibiting the importation into this country of fire blight infected trees. He had communicated with the federation, asking their co-operation. The question was a most serious one. A meeting would be held in Wellington between the federation and nurserymen, who would urge on the Government the necessity of preventing fire blight trees being imported into New Zealand. Mr. Miller said fire blight had existed in New Zealand for the past la 'years. He had seen trees wither off in a night, but only on rare occasions. He considered the agitation was only got up in the interests of nurserymen. Air. G. Esam, orchard instructor, said he had forwarded trees to-Wel-lington, which on investigation were found to be free of fire blight. After some further discussion, the following resolution was carried: — "That in view of the serious results that will occur to the New Zealand fruit industry if fire blight becomes established in the Dominion this meeting strongly urges the Government to absolutely prohibit the importation of pear, apple and quince trees or any* grafts ot buds from any country where fire blight exists or any country that may become affected by the importation of trees from countries where blight exists.” The question of the extra cost of fruit cases (8/. per 100) was brought upj and it was resolved that the matter be laid before the federation with a view to haying a charge of half price made for cases. The chairman drew attention to a statement cabled by the New Zealand Commissioner to the effect that ■: a Ahipmeht of Hawke’s Bay and Nelson apples had opened up badly on arrival. Mr Esam said he thought he could throw some light on the shipment referred' to. The alleged shipment consisted of eight cases in all and evidently very little attention and care had been bestowed on the fruit in transit. The report had unfortunately led people to, believe that the shipment'was a big one. Mr. Esam submitted a progress summary- of the. peach Spraying experiments at Arataki Farm, which proved highly instructive and interesting to those present. Mr. Abbott, representing the New Zealand Fertiliser Co., explained the objects of the company and the benefits received by shareholders. His remarks were listened to with interest.