FRUIT INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 30 December 1924, Page 6

FRUIT INDUSTRY

MASS MEETING OF GROWERS

SELLING ORGANISATION TO BE

SET UP

When the meeting of fruitgrowers resumed after luncheon yesterday the subcommittee appointed to confer with the Provincial Council as to a scheme of fruit distribution for the coming season brought forward the following recommendation ‘‘That the committee recommends that the Provincial Fruitgrowers’ Council be asked to make an appeal to, growers. to sign an agreement to supply their local market fruit for 1925 season to a selling organisation under the control of Colonel Gray, providing a sufficient quantity, of fruit ' (being not less than 100,000 cases) is secured, Colonel Gray to be offered the: position of solo representative and agent, with the right to make a levy of 3d per case on all fruit handled and to make such further deductions from returns as will defray actual working costs of the agency.” The chairman formally embodied the recommendation in the form of a resolution.

Seconded by Mr Forsyth. Colonel Gray said he wanted to make it absolutely clear that he had made no promise to remain in the district. He stressed’ tlie point that the growers must take all the risk; and if they were doubtful about the scheme it,would be better to drop it. He had been in the dock for a year. No man would be in the position to’say that he led him into this scheme and that lie (the grower) had lost money over it. Before he would accept, the position he wished, to go to Wellmgtqn and cohsult three' persons, because without their assistance the

thing. 1 would be an impossibility from the start. He urged them to realise' i ■ that it. might mean to them nothing more than keeping tl\e organisation together, and above all things they must see , that statutory > control is carried next year. The meeting was asking him, to. take a pretty heavy responsibility. He did not. mind that. But there, must be no misunderstanding about it. It was a rotten job all the same. If they. went into it they went in on their own feet. While he was in it he would do his level best; but would give no promise of success.

Stewart, in supporting the resolution, stated that a member of his

association had stated at a recent meet

ing that under the voluntary control system lie had at least got credit notes for.his sales; and not debits as previously. Colonel Gray, in referring to the criticism he had been subjected to, said he hoped that anyone who had anything of this nature to_ sa^ —and there were one or two of them;in the room —lie would like.them to get up and have it out with him once and for all. A Voice: So say I. The motion was then put and carried unanimously on a show of hands. It was. resolved that it be a recommendation that the name of the Nelson ' Provincial Fruit Control .Board be alter-, ed to the Nelson Fruit Exchange.' , •■ THEFBOVINCML COUNCIL The'next question for consideration •was whether the Provincial Council should continue in existence. , ;Mr, E. T. James said that at. the time the Council was brought into existence it had to fight'an organisation in Wellington, which was now working for Nelson. He thought that perhaps a modified organisation would be sufficient now;.; ." ■'...'".(" Mr Manoy thought that perhaps the money now spent In running the Council might be used for retaining Colonel Gray. He hop.ed those-who did not want the Council would got up and say "ap. ■ Mr Gilbert spoke in favour of the continuation of the Council and he moved that in the opinion of the meeting it is desirable that it should continue. The . mover also,made suggestions,as to financing the Council, including that an application be made to the Export Control Board to appoint the Council its Nelson agent; failing this, that an application be made to the Federation for a portion of the orchard tax; or failing this alternative, that associations be asked to' allocate, '.a- pertain, portion of their revenue, .t'. i.'v<" ■/•. ;' : . - - *<•_' '■'

Mr\Highet‘, said-.he would .propose as a last resort that Nelson should follow Otago and petition to vote themselves out of Dominion export control. The speaker 'emphasised that he "would • Only move such a motion after all other channels bad been navigated. Mr J. Stewart seconded the motion.

Mr A. JE. Jackson moved an amendment that the. Council .carry on in a modified form, with a part-time secre-' tary and reduce the number of members to three. „ . *y.’ .

TTie amendment was seconded by Mr; Manoy. After some further discussion, in the course of which Colonel Gray urged the necessity’of getting, the" Act amended and taking another vote as soon as -possible, the. largo \ majority. of those present ‘.were of opinion that it was essential to keep the Council in existence.

Eventually Mr Gilbert amended his motion to read that in the opinion of the meeting the Council should continue in existence, and that it devise ways and means of finance during the coming season.

The amendment was put and declared lost on the voices.

The motion was then put and declared carried unanimously. Mr C. Low feared that those who stood loyal to the organisation would be the victims if the scheme did not meet with success; while the outsider would score. Why not flood the market and let all crash together; and then perhaps everyone would come in. Colonel Gray said the outstanding danger was the rail-sitter. He was going to score this year as he did last. On the suggestion of the chairman (Mr Stephens) Colonel Gray promised to call the growers together as soon as he returned from Wellington. The chairman also'stated that the Council would get all information* on the proposed scheme as soon as possible. The meeting then terminated.