FROST INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 7 August 1920, Page 4

FROST INDUSTRY

OR 0 A NTSATION QUESTION STATEMENT' OF PROVINCIAL P RESIDENT PROPOSED PLAN FORES! 1A .DOWEL. Speaking at the. social held in connection with the'annual meeting of the Stoke Fruitgrowers’ Association last evening, Air A. Gilbert, President of the Nelson Provincial 'Fruitgrowers' Council, made an important statement regarding organisation, a question that at present is engaging tin' serious attention of all interested m the industry. He said that this time last vear they were making insistent demands oh the Government for export space, and for a guarantee of a- penny a lb. 'ln Air Massey they found they had one who was prepared to do his verv best for the industry. They received space for 60,000 cases, and the penny a pound guarantee, which proved to” he on terms far more 'liberal than they had hoped for. Fortunately, tiie fruit sold well, and would net them about 10s a ease. Reports from the markets showed that the prospects for the future were bright indeed. But- having secured the space and guarantee what had they done with itr The result was that only 31,000 cases were exported, and the New Zealand markets Acre glutted. Jt was apparent that if success was to be gained there must be better method of assembly. Several meetings had been hold, and from the expressions of opinion voiced at those meetings, growers were anxious for better combination. They felt they must speak with one voice. There were ten associations affiliated to the Nelson Provincial Council, and they were now putting that body on a more satisfactory basis, so that it could do more solid work for the district as a whole. Then they wanted the fruitgrowers of the Dominion to speak with one voice through the Federation. If there was any dissatisfaction with, tlio federation it v* ould bo of a personal nature, and if growers chose thev could change the personnel. Continuing, he said that Nelson had made two of the finest attempts at organisation, hut had failed. Ihe present move was to get the growers united into one solid body. Many ot those interested had been ©pending one dav a week formulating a scheme which thev hoped would appeal to all ->■ rowers. ‘As.growers, they would assemble the stuff, ensure its standard, and lix the nrice, that WHS they WOlllCl bring the fruit to the point ot shipment The middleman could then take the fruit He was an economic necessity. but it was for fruitgrowers to use him, and not let him use them, ii they could assemble the-fruit and could not every possible ease ofit of the country that would give satisfaction, all would be well. A few weeks ago they had a conference, mAA ellingtou, and other districts frankly acknowledged they could not reach the NeHon J|tu Har'd Their aim should be 100,000 cases for the London market. Air F. O. Hamilton had been inquiring into shipment matters, and he had bee consulting growers. With this expoit Nelson would come into its wn. 11 ® future was full of promise but it was in their own hands, and if they seized the opportunity there would be ample reward for their eftons E ac t in a collectively many saungs 'could* 7 'he made. One matter for conFderation was one Nelson hi and. FLe o-ood-will of “Sun-kissed Oranges” was worth ten million dollars.. tia^ mark would be a great asset to thc whole district. In regard to marketing it was not their intention to cut mix onv particular merchant—no farm would be cut out of its fair share or business Tbev were looking for the unitv and co-operation of all concerned and'if thov got it all would ho well.