FRUIT INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 29 December 1924, Page 6

FRUIT INDUSTRY

MASS MEETING OF GROWERS

QUESTION OF VOLUNTARY CONTROL A mass meeting of fruitgrowers was held at the Institute, Hardy Street, today, ‘to consider the position which has j arisen in connection with the defeat ol local control of the industry at the re- j cent poll of fruitgrowers. Mr Stephens, j chairman of the Provincial Council, . presided. There was an attendance of between 60 and 70. . '■ The chairman explained the object ot the meeting, which had been called by the Council. Before the special business was proceeded with the dhairman read a letter from the Fruitgrowers’ Federation regarding loading in the Bay. (Iho letter has already been published in The! Mail.) There was also a further communication stating that Mr Rice ana Mr Campbell and Mr Napier would also be in the district shortly and address meetings.- In regard to pear shipments ■rOkfihinfT fnviVipr hnd pventuated. but the

Government was to be asked to allocate a portion' 1 of the guarantee towards shipment of pears. Going on to speak of the--recent ballot on local control, the chairman said failure to carry it was due to the clause stipulating that 60 per • cent, of the growers must vote. The. Council considered that in view of the .2 to 1 majority it had been fully justified' in putting the matter before the growers. Three,'-propositions were to be considered. Firstly, whether any form of voluntary control is to be carried on this season; secondly, whether

the Council ;is to remain in existence; and thirdly, if the answer to the first two is “yes” what method of financing is to be adopted. In regard to the first and second, the matters would he left to the meeting to decide. The Council had resolved to place their resignations in the hands of the meeting necessary. This was not done m a spirit of pique ; but it was thought the nest course to adopt; the Council was prepared to- cany on if the meeting so desired.' The first thing to be considered, was as to whether some form of 1 voluntary contract should be continued this season. He then invited discussion. , In reply to Mr 'Manoy the chairman

said the cost of the Council, apart from the Control Board was about £800 : or ci vear. Mr, Gilbert said that at the Stoke meeting a unanimous vote of confidence. ' and. expression of appreciation of their services was carried in the Council ; and ha bad much pleasure in moving a similar resolution. Mr Gilbert went on to speak of the good work done by the executive. - ' „ , Mr Cooper, on behalf of the Moutere Fruitgrowers’ Association, seconded the motion. t ■ The motion was put by Mr Gilbert and carried by acclamation. Mr Stephens, on behalf of the Council, 1 returned thanks, and said he felt sure the Council, knowing they had the

backing of growers, would go ahead and work in the interests of the growers. In regard 1 tq the cost of running the y Council, Hie Council in the past have had the running of export fruit, and this in the future would be cut down very much. He considered the Council could now i probably be run on £4OO or -■ £SOO. -New methods of finance would - have to be devised, and in these circumstances the Council considered tho, growers should have the opportunity of appointing a new Council if so desired. Mr Gilbert'went on to speak on the same lines of bis; address at the Stoke mWintr in regard to matters of finance.

He moved that the Control Board, when formed, be approached in the matter of appointing tne Provincial Council its hi ebon agents. . . Mr Manoy objected to such a motion ; at this stage. The chairman said the first business to be considered was the question of voluntary control. The chairman admitted he had spok- ' an to this effect; but after all perhaps the question of finance should be the first consideration. On a, show of hands it was resolved to ’consider the matter of voluntary con. • trol first. 1 X ' i The chairman said tihat any move ■ : must come from the growers them-: . selves. ' . ■' , I In reply to a question, Colonel Gray i said that.while ’ he. remained in this: country lie Would do all - lie could to help the growers; but he would make no promise to stay. He did not intend To carry on as an orchardbt, as be

iould; ifot piake it pay,' and there was «, possibility of him going to the East. Buf, he repeated that while he remained v here lie would do his Best for the industry. , v ■ .‘ ■>. . Mr' Manoy‘spoke strongly m favour , of retaining the ‘services of . Colbnel Gray, whose loss would.be a disaster to ‘ the industry. (Hear, hear!). What he proposed to do was to wipe out the Council* and give the money it cost to run it to Col. Gray as the Federation representative.. Compulsory control , would come sooner or later, and it would be a pity to lose all the work already done. The chairman said voluntary control muat be dealt with first, and : if that wa 8 * turned down Mr Manoy could then bring forward; his proposal. Mr Dicker asked if Colonel Gray

would bo prepared to take control of a selling agency if growers wcro prepared to contract. . In tho course of a straight speech, Colonel Gray said that if they went into any system of voluntary control it must bo with the idea that perhaps they would not make a penny out of it and would ho done solely to keep the

existing machinery going. Last year 52,000 cases were sold by and probably it could be increased next year. He.warned growers that they could not do without the brokers for several years to come; and possibly the brokers would not touch voluntary control again. Next year there was going I to be a very bitter trade fight, and Can-

terbury and Dunedin, amongst other I places, were taking steps to see that no Nelson -fruit was admitted to their markets, and in some instances assistance was being given to the proposal by growers in this province. Last season ' the number of cases agreed to be given j to the Board under the voluntary conI trol schemo was 80,000 short. There

were several people who signed up who did not put one single case througli the Control Board, and did not.have one single label. “What is said at these meetings,” oontinued Colonel Gray, “and what is actually dorie in contract are two yery different things.” He went on to speak of the difficulties experien-

ced in the last year 5 and said that in the coming season the growers would have provinces in an organised position Wore they going to fight it or take no notice of it? If they fought it he believed they could heat it; but would they be widening the breach between voluntary and statutory control? He believed statutory control was an absolute necessity. If they adopted some form of voluntary control this season they should go into it with the idea that' it might not be to their advantage in, the immediate future. As regarded financing any scheme that might be brought down, Colonel Gray said that first of all they must make Sure that some of the Wellington brokers would stand by them and that they would get

Govemment inspection of their fruit. “Don’t make any mistake the bitterness of the fight in the trade and the fight in the provinces. I will ask no living man to go into voluntary, control again. • It will have to come from

you. -While here I will do my best for you if you really wish rit done. For S’s sake let us get at this thing right n to bedrock and see just where wo are.” (Applause). ■ . Col. Gray also strongly advised that if any scheme was evolved, that a definite civil contract should be entered into between the parties concerned. Tn reply to a question, the chairman said the Council would be prepared to back up any scheme approved' of. Personally he was in favour of statutory control. He sincerely hoped that Col. Gray’s services would be retained. Col. Gray said another point should be made quite clear. It was not a case of what a man was worth, but what the industry could pay. Mr C. Mackay considered if there was no alternative to .voluntary control . it would be 1923 over again—perhaps a little worse. • Mr T. James said that Nelson was the only province that had no proper organisation at present. All the otheb provinces were now in a fighting position. Unless the growers were united

they would have to get out —the small grower especially. The speaker went on to criticise the Council, which -he said represented only a section of the growers. The question was whether it was worth while to go on with voluntary control until statutory control was carried

Mr Nottage, in the course of an explanation, said the matter of extending the franchise of the Council had been considered several times; but the only equitable solution was found to be statutory control. The chairman said that any alteration, in representation could .only be made by altering the constitution of the Council.

' Mr James replied that until all the growers were united no further progress' could be made. After some further discussion it was suggested that a sub-committee be appointed to confeir ■ during the luncheon hour as to a scheme -Mr' Dicker was somewhat surprised that the Council would not take tho responsibility of,'submitting a proposal for, the,.coming season. Mr Stephens said the Council did not wish to shirk any responsibility; but considered that any, scheme must have a big push from, the growers. Tho Council wanted to know just how big that push-would be; and indications so far were not particularly promising. Mr 'L. Mackay (Lower Moutere) said his association had decided to approve of any voluntary scheme that might be drawn up. The chairman' said' this was the class of information that the Council was looking for. The views of associations and packing, groups were then given, and it was found that all were sympathetic Towards a proposal for the distribution of fruit during the coming season. 1 After some further discussion a Committee . consisting of the chairman, and

Messrs J. Stewart, Haining, Highet, Gilbert and E. T. James, Was appointed to meet t|he Council during tho luncheon hour and submit a scheme to the meeting later in tho day. (Left sitting.)