HILLS’ UNION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 May 1936, Page 3

HILLS’ UNION

FRUITGROWERS’ MEETING CONSIDERATION OF REMITS A general meeting of the Hills’ Fruitgrowers’ Union was held at Mapua on Saturday evening when Mr A. Forsyth presided over a meeting of growers which included Messrs M. Davey (Orchard Instructor), F. E. Nottage (Fruit Control Board), and John Dicker (Fruit Federation Director). The chairman stated that the meeting had been called to consider general business and more particularly to bring up and discuss remits for both the Federation and the Fruit Control Board Conferences. A letter was received from the Fruit Board in connection with the s.s. Tasmania claims as follows: “Tasmania Claims 1930.—The Department of Agriculture is now checking up the various claims that we have submitted. They hope to finalise this checking within two weeks and immediately this work is finished this office will be enabled to make immediate settlement of guarantee claims for 1930 and for the fruit shipped on the s.s. Tasmania.” A letter from the Fruit Federation Branch Manager, Nelson, in reference to various port charges is shown in the following tables: — Export Fruit Charges Pence per case Mapua wharfage 96 Mapua to Wellington freight 7.20 Wellington wharfage .. 1.68 Wellington haulage 48 Total 10.32 On Mapua fruit shipped to Nelson and loaded direct on overseas vessel without pre-cooling the charges are:— Mapua wharfage 96 Mapua to Nelson freight 3.60 Nelson wharfage L2B Total 5.84 Additional charges when export fruit is pre-cooled at Wellington:— Cool storage 4.50 d; haulage .48d per case. Total charges on Mapua fruit carted to the cool store at Stoke pre-cooled, then loaded on Home boat at Nelson, are as follows: — pence per case Mapua wharfage 96 Cartage 3.00. Cool storage 4.50 Railage 1-20 Nelson wharfage 1.28 Total I°- 94 The secretary was instructed to convey the congratulations of the Union to Mr A. IT. Cockayne on his appointment as Director of the Agriculture Department. The meeting unanimously agreed to a resolution inviting the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee-Martin, to visit the district at an early opportunity.

Mr M. Davey made a report in connection with the cool-storage of the Cox’s O.P. apples which had been carried at a temperature of 36 to 33 deg. Fahrenheit in the Motueka Coo! Store for a period of six weeks. The growers who supplied the fruit are to be furnished with full details by the Inspector. Mr Davey referred to pruning practice as carired out in the North Island and it was decided that a pruning demonstration and also experiments in pruning be carried out by the Inspector. The following remits were placed on the order paper to be discussed at the forthcoming Provincial Conference:— “That the Constitution of the Nelson Advisory Board be amended to allow for increased representation for growers’ (Messrs Forsyth and Hume). This remit provoked considerable discussion. Several members criticised the Board more especially in regard to its constitution. One member thought that the Board was overloaded by official membeis and that there would be better work done if this membership (the official) was more restricted. The chairman of the Advisory Board made a speech in defence of his Board after which the remit was passed with one dissentient. “That the Government be asked to amend the Fruit Control Act to give fairer representation to the Nelson District on the Fruit Export Board. “That a committee be set up in Nelson to go into the question of local marketing and that evidence be taken in the Nelson Province for transmission to the proposed Government enquiry.” . ~ , “That the Fruit Board investigate the advisability of ararnging a working agreement, co-ordinating the selling services of produce boards in the United Kingdom.” “That the regulations concerning the export of Slurmers be amended.” “That the election of directors to the Fruitgrowers’ Federation be by postal ballot.” ‘That there be more uniform interpretation by the Departmental officers of the Horticulture Division, of the Government regulations covering export fruit.” “That any alteration to Government regulations covering export fruit be notified to growers or their associations as early as possible prior to the commencement of the season. "That the fruit from regrafted C.O.P be excluded from export for four year grafts and under. “That the Government be asked to subsidise the costs of lime and manure in districts not served by the railway.” It was resolved that Messrs Forsyth, Dicker and Nottage be a committee to receive any further remits from members of the Union.