CONTROL OF FRUIT

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

CONTROL OF FRUIT

OPPOSED By NELSON GROWERS TILL MORE INFORMATION ' AVAILABLE CONTROL BOARD TAKES SERIOUS VIEW . - v A NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION At the meeting of fruitgrowers at Motueka yesterday remits bearing on control came up for discussion. ilr Brash stated that the ■ control hoard was going to take over the selection of brokers and port. / Mr W. Rowlings said there was too much hurry about control. Let them wait and see how Colonel Gray got on. Mr Napier said there was no till-, tention of cutting out present agents who had given satisfaction in the past. Mr Bisley asked if private sales would be stppped.' ■ ' Mr Brash- said many matters would have to be left till Colonel Gray's return. F.o.b. sales would have to ib.e made through the board, aud id a case would be charged. ' Mr Bisley said this would block business. . The guarantee would not always continue, and he wanted to make private sales. Mr Gilbert said absolute control had been assumed, yet there were remits dealing with it. It was a farce. All power had been taken out of Nelson’s hands. When they voted for control they were not told it would be absolute. ' "

Mr Brash: It is not absolute control. Mr McKee said they wanted to develop f.o.b. sales, but were repressed. He had got in touch with a new market, and wanted it for Nelson. They could get three steamers to load at Nelson next year for this market, and why should they not ha»e them for themselves? ' • ' •' ! 5 '

Mr Stephens said there was danger in f.o.b. sales. A certain firm had boughta consignment of New Zealand apples and before they had arrived in 'England had advertised them at 13/6 a case.- The . -' - board had expected a better price than/J that, but the 13/6 quotation was liable .. to fix the maximum price for the season'. Mr Bisley said his prices were 9/- iC * and 1 0J- f.o.b. ” „ : .’.S' Mr Gilbert said Otago apples sent to South America had beaten the Nelson 1 apples sent through the federation. , Mr Napier said he had received a

cable that the prices realised in South America were 17/6 for Delicious and 14/- for other varieties, equal to 13/6 and 10/6 Wellington respectively. ’ Mr McKee said the Otago apples had. brought 13/6 for Delicious and 12/., for other varieties, f.0.b., and the growers had got their cheques. Mr Campbell said the growers could / not have got their cheques. , , ' Mr McKee: Well, the money was in Wellington; A remit from the Tasman lYuitpackers read 'that absolute control of .. .fruit ";,;, should not be assumed without the con-..

sent and approval of a majority of';ex;-, porters obtained either at a conference of exporters or by a postal ballot. Up to this time all growers present had been allowed to vote on the remits, but on this remit coming up Mr Brash insisted that only. ..delegates should vote. ' - ■ "

Mr Nottage and others'* opposed this, ~ and finally the question was put to’a,., vote of the meeting, -which by a large majority decided in favour of all voting. ‘ ~ -' ■ ' ■ r - ' Mr Gilbert pointed out that the remit was practically a vote of confidence- " in the Control Board. The chairman said lie would not take * it that way. • - ; -• ■ Mr Nottage said growers wanted" more information. V :

Mr Mackay said several delegates hiid gone, and tne matter required proper - consideration. ••

The chairman: With such strong feel--ing' I will not take a vote. Mr Manoy: I move that vote ho taken. This was seconded. .. The chairman: I will not take it.:--i» Further discussion ensued and '• the chairman said he would adhere to his-, decision, as the ruling was; quite divid-v----ed. He considered the position- very serious. He realised .that there were two very strong forces at work. “I am retiring from fruitgrowing politics,” added Mr Allan. “1 -have, fought hard" for getting an. organisation, and-I be-

lieve if you turn clown the organisation you will make a very great mistake.; I withdraw the remit. We have omy got the guarantee to-day because of the organisation, and won't get the guarantee without an organisation.” , . A delegate complained that growers did not know what tne Control Board intended doing. . Mr Brash repeated that the board” would choose tiie merchant and port. Mr Lowe said some of them wished... to send their fruit-through agents whohad helped them. : ' f 'T/%

Ml* James moved that the Control Board uo not extend control powers over next season. • ■'

The chairman: I don’t like the responsibility of deciding. If ~Messi£'...\ brash and Stephens want you to' vote I will take it. *v ’ ’W • “ ‘.“ V Mr Brasil said it was not fair that the whole meeting should vote. He came to meet delegates to the Provincial Conference. It ywas distinctly a vote of noconfidence in the Nelson representative on the hoard. To pass a. resolution against what the Control Board had already decided on would he a vote of noconfidence. He pointed out that some of the delegates Had gone. Mr Stephens said the board had acted on behalf of Nelson and had done what it thought was best. Delegates. were at the meeting, and if they said he had •' not satisfactorily carried out his duties he would accept -if as a vote of noconfidence. But he would tale a vote of delegates only. Mr James: lam surprised at Mr Stephens taking it that way. Mr Stephens said it was the only way he could take it. By control they could get rebates that would finance the whole organisation, and could reduce costs. Mr McKee: We were given to understand that absolute control would not he brought in. I( is a breach of faith. Mr Campbell said no pledge had been given I hat there would be no absolute control.

Mr Stephens: Ii is not absolute rontro). Wo coalcl n.arkel the fruit if we Jikcd.

Mr James: I would not mind giving the board some of my fruit. Mr Napier said control was necessary owing to so many marks, and they must lower costs. Fruit was sent forward at * times and there was no boat to take it. Mr Nottage eventually moved to the effect that the meeting was not at present disposed to vote for absolute con- * trol, and considered the question should be deferred till Colonel Gray’s repeat was received and this season’s results were known. They wanted to hear more about the question.

This was seconded by Mr Hamilton, and on a show of hands being taken was carried, only two hands being held up against.