STOKE FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 163, 8 July 1918, Page 3

STOKE FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

IMPORTANT MEETING. ! lOn Friday last the monthly meeting of the above Association, took place iit tlxe Stoke Hall. There was a good attendance, with Mr J. Biggar {president) in the chair. Attention was drawn- by members to the need of stricter Government vigilance as regards diseased fruit bixi v? sold in shops. A member told the meeting how a collectioni of bad fruit was obtained from retailers in! Auckland, and this was exhibited at the Conference. The letter- from J. iSaii'gwell re cure for blight (?) was to be acknowledged. (Mr She Hon forwarded resolutions for approval of this Association. .The signatures of chairman and' secretary to be affixed 1 ami forwarded to Mr Slielton. rough Handling of fruit. The 'secretary introduced the serious matter of the 'rough handling of fruit. This matter, he said, had been. gon« into in Sydney by special conference with a good result, and' Mr Scott ■suggested that a -conference be he'd in Wellington'. In the: discussion, which followed, Mr Gilbex-t gave Mr Nathan's to him that all fruit .shipped by .NiVnn and Kaitoa was very carefully handledHe thought it. was a question of tight pack, high pack, or a loose -p;>ck, hence an important matter for to be interested in. He said' that Mr Rogers did al'i he could to ensure careful handling of our fruit on the Nelson wharf.

Mr 'C. W. Pitts-Brown thought tin fruit was badlv handled an Nelson, and something in the .nature of a ■conference would ventilate the fruitgrowers' grievances. _

Mr A. Y. Allport gave a- striking instance of the ■ wav fruit*was handled a'nd loaded in> Nelson at the wharf, a man actually standing on a fruit I-a.se and taking the weight of another the result being that he pressed the bottom case nearly to matchwoodu Mr St. John also instanced a shipment to "Wellington l , which was roughly handled oni the train, and -> rrivecl at its destination' in l a badly bruised condition. Mr, Gilbert informed the meeting tliat-a Nelson fruiterer had told hint that American apples land in- Ne'son in better . condition than apples from rnir own growers. ' - After further discussion. the following resolution was passed unanimously : ""That this Association urgently requests, the Federation to arrange for -a comprehensive, conference to in Wellington during the week the directors meet, • on or about 7th August. The conference to discuss the handling of fruit and best meams. -to eliminate bruising, rough handling, etc. The suggested conference to consist of delegates from waterside workers, shipowners, railway unaoai®, fruite-i-'.rs (retailers and wholesale)), and the directors of the Federation." It was moved that the attention of the Federation be drawn to the fact that badly affected fruit is being so)d._ in Wellington, "andi that the Federation

itei the Department to exercise ( mo-e vigilance in the matter of condemniing • iseased fruit. Mr A. V. Allport said the Federation was trying to get space for shipping apples for export. We should' later on discuss the question- of the quality of apple to be exported,—apples f trees younger than nine or ten yev»S ■should not be sent out of thd's country, a.* it would be sure to develop bitter pit-. Mr Gilbert thought it would be a good plan for the Federation ito hold apnle days. .Mr C. W. Browm moved 1 , that the 'sawmillers of the ■ district be .infornridof the regulation' sizes. of the standard fruit cases, which, were as folic v-: - Imperial bushel, 10xllgxl9f. Half do, sxll£xl9|. New half-case (Campbell), 7x8x193. 'This is to replace the old half-dump peacock. , Tomato case' 6x7x28. ! These sizes- \vould_, hccomo standard, and later would be'enforced.