FRUITGROWERS’ PROBLEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 February 1931, Page 5

FRUITGROWERS’ PROBLEMS

INCREASED RAILWAY COSTS Tile monthly meeting of the Christchurch Tomato and Stone Fruit Growers’ Association was held on Saturday evening, Mr 11. T. Falla presiding, reports “The Press.” The chairman welcomed Mr R. W. Ilawke, M.P., Mr W. Green, of the Canterbury Poultry Producers’ Association, Mr G. H. Bradford, secretary of the New Zealand Poultry Producers’ Association, and representatives of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association.

Discussing the recent increase in the railway tariffs, Mr C. E. Pope said the increased rales were a blow to fruitgrowers. To send 281 bof fruit for commercial purposes to Invercargill now cost 2s Id, while it was possible to send 551 b for domestic use for about eightpence. The increased fates had disorganised the markets and the cost of fruit to the public would undoubtedly rise. The new rate ner ton, he explained, was 445, which did not sound so serious in comparison with the old rate of about 335, but it was very rarely that a grower sent a ton lot—usually fruit was sent forward in lots of from 281 b to four of five hundredweight. The chairman remarked that they all knew that the railways, like many other businesses, were hard put to it at present and an ordinary complaint from the Association would merely bring the reply that the Department- had been compelled to increase the rates. Mr A. Johnston suggested that it was the obsolete methods of handling in the goods sheds that cost the money. Explaining that the rates had always been fixed as (he result of recommendations from the Departmental officers to the Minister, Mr Hawke suggested that, if the Association could shovv that there was any inequality of sacrifice on its part in the extra rates its members had to pay, it would certainly get from the Minister the consideration its arguments deserved. The Department realised that it had to run the railways in the best interests of all concerned, and if would not- allow one group of individuals to suffer unfairly to the profit of the rest of the country. The chairman said lie had been struck by the fact that the figure of the new rates showed that the small man was being unduly heavily penalised in comparison with the man who was able to send large lots at one time. The secretary (Mr 11. Firman) moved the following motion, which was seconded by Mr Pope, and carried:—“That this combined meeting of poultrymen, nurserymen, and fruitgrowers considers that the increased rates charged by the railways are proving a great detriment to the trade between the various towns of the Dominion and that a reconsideration cff the rates would he conducive to the interests of both the railways and the producers.”