FRUIT INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 19 June 1926, Page 7

FRUIT INDUSTRY

GATHERING OF GROWERS PROPOSED ADVISORY BOARD FOR NELSON SHARP DIVISION OF OPINION PROPOSAL TKMTORARILY WITHDRAWN A provincial conference of fruitgrowers convened by the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation was held at Motueka yesterday, and was stated to bo the largest gathering of the kind, ever held in the province. Mr Jas. Allan of Tasman presided. Amongst those present were Messrs T. C. Brash, President of the Federation ; H. E. Stephens (a member of 'lie Fruit Control Board); Mr D; Haining, a Federation director.; Mr H. E. Napier, secretary of the Federation; and Air J. A. Campbell, Director of the Orchard Division. ~ y The chairman, referring to. the past season, said..there had been a fine crop and it had been a pleasure to work in the orchard under such beautiful w*a< tier conditions as had prevailed. The season started with a guarantee on 350,600 cases, which was raised three times, and finally' reached 750,000 eases. No disorganised body, he said, could have got the help the Federation had received tliis season.

Mr Brash'said it was their duty to look forward and not back, Laming from the experience gained, l'h ••va were a vast'’number of matters that would come up regarding export this season and in the future. The outstanding feature of the season had been the gi.u;iy increased production of apphs, !■.- gether with improvement in quality. The percentage exportable had b< en very-high —as much as '9O per cent, in some orchards.' The increased production meant a great deal more work for the orchardist, the Horticultui il divison, and the Federation. Their Vvt thanlvs were due to Mr Camps>il a«d his staff, Mr Napier and staff, and 'he shipping companies who had gone out of their way. to assist in getting the fruit away. Dominion markets, he said, had been of very little value to growers this season.' They were still glutted and local prices on the whole had beeri very poor. The consumer was look, ing for a better quality fruit and this the grower must supply. There was a demand for standardisation. There were great difficulties in the way of this, and there should bo local boards to deal with it. Referring to the arsenic scare Mi' Brash said this was due to the large amount of arsenate showing on American apples. New Zealand had given a- guarantee that her apples would be free from arsenate stains. /

Mr Brash proceeded to refer to the problem of so many brokers and shipping marks, and said the Control Board had deoided to take a greater measure of control of fruit:next season. The Board would make the choice of merchant and porti . ■ There would be no pooling of prices, as there was a good deal of objection by : growers to ids. Each grower would receive ;he prices realised by his own fruit. The intended control would simplify the work of export. As the export business grew merchants in Great Britain were becoming more interested and were establishing local agents—that was business. But local agents had done less for they- commission than was done in other industries.- He hoped a Government guarantee would continue and that they, would' never have to. rely_ on agents’-credits.' "What commissions came- to' the ; board would be passed on to the growers, thus reducing charges. The board was the only organisation that could make a shipping contract. Referring to the .line of demarcation between the Control Board , and the Federation ,Mr Brash-said he did not won-’ der that growers were confused. The ■ personnel was largely the same ' and this tended to confusion. But the position was fairly clear. ..The board defined the policy. It ••had only one function—export marketing;, it could not trade. It was economical to contract with the Federation to carry out the policy. Ordinary members of the board, it was stated, received £25 a year. Regarding the constitution of the Fgde.vtion Mr Brash said he was in sy.npithy with Nelson’s desire for more equitable representation thei-eon. Nelson, with 63 per cent, of Dominion export, should have more than one represent tive on the Federation.

Dealing with local organisation Mr Brash said the directors had decided on a committee of three in each province, with the local director. This committee would deal with all local matters. The local representative of the Federation would be the secretary. It was hoped 'by this means to keep more in touch with local requirements. He appealed ; for unity in meeting problems. They must; have' team: work. They could not all. see the same way—that was impossible. The farmer was largely an individualist, and it was difficult! for farmers to' unite and stand behind yi organisation. But let them stand behind their organisation 'in marketing and trading. He would not claim that the Federation’s prices were always the lowest, but where prices were equal the Federation should get the cider. Opposition prices would not be so low but for the Federation being in the null. Referring to the election of a .Federation director, Mr' Brash said he had been a Nelson director for five years. As there was now only one director from Nelson if they fell they would like to have a local practical orchnrdist to represent them they need not hesitate to vote for the, latter. He liked the work, but would not mind if they desired a local man. (Applause.) Mr Campbell congratulated tile growers on u the preparation' of the export fruit. They had risen to the occasion in a way that was surprising. The big increase, in export had put a great strain on (lie whole organisation, including the department. As head of the orchard division he was pleased with ths congratulations to inspectors. Regarding export fruit the happy medium must, be aimed at between immature and overmature fruit. There had been overlapping of varieties, and in future there must be maximum dates for each variety, though it was recognised that the same variety did not mature at the same time in all orchards. The arsenic scare had affected the market at the beginning of the season, and though noL so acute was not, yol, dead- Spreader had been blamed for the trouble, hut lie did not agree with this. They must, remember.that more care was being taken these days in the .purity of food stuffs. Speaking of the orchard tax Mr Campbell said this, had now been reduced so much and the cost of collection was so great that the Department was opposed to renewal of' the lax. ROLL CALL The roll was then called, the foiio’-v----ing delegates being presentM \ssrs lTanklvn, Birwadj Association; A. ale. Kee, Bluffs; Argue, Bronte; I.owe. Hnrakoko; Paynter, Horton’s Road : Mackay, Lower Mmitore; Jackson and Salmond, Mahana; Forsyth. Mapna : Henderson and Cooper, Muutere; Notlage, Sterling, Dodson, James, Higgs, Austin, I-indup, Nelson Co-op. Jfuuit Company ; Lleliwyn, Ngatimoti; Hodcly and Maisey, Redwood’s Valley; Hamilton and S’ Rowlings, Riwaka; Addison,

Ruby Buy; Eilyvean, Stewart’s; Scott, Meal, Jtiggur, Stephens, Highet. Stoke; Baldwin, Tasman; Darvall, Inlet; Cresswell, West Moutcre. Questions were raised as to the large number of delegates from Stoke and the Co-op. Company, the position being explained by Messrs Napier arid Nottago ELECTION. OF DIRECTOR The election.of the Nelson director < n the Federation was proceeded willi. There were three nominations, but Mr Gilbert withdrew, leaving 'Messrs Brash and Haining to go to a ballot; the lesult being the election of Air Brash, who in returning thanks said lie would do his utmost to merit the confidence placed in him. ADVISORY COMMITTEE The chairman said if was felt in tile province that there was need for better representation of growers, and that die/ should know more about what was going on. They wanted to . have a voice in the improvement of export muliJfS. The Federation’s advisory committee then.caine up for discussion. Mr McKee said there mifst be i n organisation in iNelson. There were 2000 souls dependent on the industry in Nelson,’ and there was no organisation. The chairman: Wrong!

■Mr McKee said the Provincial Council had gone. If there was an organisation here it could work towards getting charges down, and he believed they could be reduced by pretty well 1/-. He moved that instead of an advisory committee steps be taken to form a provincial organisation.

Mr i-larval” asked what, would be lice duties of the advisory committee. vV'jie the members to> be paid ? He thought the matter should be deferred till more information was available.

Mv Nottage said it was no use pretending that everything in the garden was lovely. The growers must have a say about what was going to happen. They demanded a say. • Mr Brash said the proposal was not being thrust on...the province. It applied “where districts desire.” Mr McKee moved that the rem : < .c----garding the orchard tax be taken after lunch in order that the question of an organisation for Nelson might be introduced. The chairman said he believed >he federation step was in the right direction. He was sorry to see that growers wished to. turn it down.

Mr Napier said the past season iiad shown there were failures in the organisation. There were weak spi ts. They admitted it. ■ Their suggestion was with a view to overcoming them. This committee would work in with the Federation and Control Board, and would deal with local matters. Its expenses would be paid by the Federation, it would receive suggestions and deal with complaints. The board had found a lack of being in touch with growers. Mr Neal would be the Federation representative in Nelson and would be secretary of the advisory committee. Mr Austin wanted to see a provincial council in existence.

Mr McKee said the advisory committee was utterly inadequate to do tlie work it would be called upon to do. A strong organisation was wanted to attend to Nelson’s own business in conjunction with the Federation. This could consist of seven directors from seven districts and absolutely responsible to the districts: and in turn appoint directors to the Federation who would not be free lances but would be sent to further the policy of the council. The control board and federation were cutting up £6OOO or £7OOO a .year and there was not a penny for a local organisation. Was that fair? :He suggested instead of an advisory committee a provincial organisation, and a tax of Id a case on export and local market fruit. This case tax could finance the federation, and part of it could go to the local organisation, which could then appoint a manager and organiser and run a sound council. Provision should also be made for the payment of say £SO a year to the secretary of each local district-

The chairman': “I think you have gone far enough, Mr McKee. ’ We will now adjourn for lunch.

PROPOSAL WITHDRAWN

On resuming after lunch the chairman said it had been decided to cut out the offei' of the federation of an advisory committee. A meeting of growers would be convened to go fully into the question. (Applause.) A discussion then would take up too much time. A motion that the offer be withdrawn was put to the meeting and canned with one dissentient.

Mr Brash: “Nelson can do as it likes.’’

It was later resolved to hold a meeting of growers at Bluffs shed at 1 o’clock on Wednesday next to discuss the question of the advisory board.

DELEGATES TO DOMINION » CONFERENCE

The following, being the only nominations, were declared elected as delegates to the Dominion Conference —Messrs Stephens and iMaisey, .Nelson; Messrs Mackay and Hamilton, Motuekn; Messrs Nottage and James, Nelson Central.

Consideration of remits was then pmceeded with, there being 105 on the order paper.