ON THE LAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 May 1939, Page 6

ON THE LAND

Helpful Notes or Suggestions for this column will be welcomed. THE FRUIT INDUSTRY MOTUEKA FRUIT EXPORTERS’ ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING I From Our Own Correspondent]

Mr L. B. Robinson presided at the annual meeting of the Motueka District Fruit Exporters’ Association, held last evening in the Jubilee Hall. Lower Moutere.

Before proceeding with the business the chairman made reference to the passing of Mr P. G. Moffatt. who had taken a leading part in the formation of the Fruit Growers’ Association, and had attended the meeting that led to the formation of the Fruit Growers’ Federation. Mr Moffatt had, he said, always been personally interested in the industry, and gave to others the benefit of his experience. The motion of sympathy was carried in silence. A letter, the chairman said, had already been sent to Mrs Moffatt and family. The annual report and balance sheet, the latter disclosing a credit of £lB 14s Bd, were presented and duly adopted, on the motion of the chairman and Mr J. D. Roberts. ANNUAL REPORT The secretary, ftlr A. E. Lindup, presented the following report:— “The period under review has been one of considerable interest to all growers. A complete season under Local Market Standardisation has been experienced, linked with a subsidy scheme introduced by the Government to offset to some extent extra labour and material charges, and more recently the request by the fruit industry for the State purchase of pip fruits on similar lines to the State purchase of dairy products. Prior to commenting in detail on these and other matters, reference must be made to the severe loss the fruit industry suffered in the passing of the late Mr J. A. Campbell, Director of Horticulture for a number of years, who at all times had the welfare of the industry at heart, and who worked incessantly for its advancement. “The departure on promotion to Dunedin of Mr Geo. Stafford, after a lengthy term of service here, was the occasion of a large social gatherng to bid him farewell and to offer congratulations to his successor, Mr J. O. Anderson. “Standardisation: The first season under standardisation can be said to have worked out reasonably well. As was only to be expected there were, and still are, numerous points requiring adjustment. Growers found difficulty in meeting the standards set and even now are in some instances not clear as to grade requirements. That this standardisation is confined to the grading done by the producer, and does not extend, as was originally indicated, to display and sale by the retailer, is a matter which should be taken up vigorously in order to secure to the consumer the full value of local market standardisation. The local market subsidy scheme, when recently finalised by the Government, was without doubt considerably below the expectations of the majority of growers in this area at all events. Efforts are at present being made to secure information, which may alleviate the above position.

FRUIT JUICE “Tentative proposals for a co-opera-tive fruit juice factory jn this province having been dropped in favour of a State-owned and operated concern, further representations on this head were made to the ftlinister of Industries and Commerce, so far with no tangible results. At the moment a fresh approach is being made with a view to securing an outlet for economic utilisation of lower grade friuts. GOVERNMENT CONTROL “In July last members requested the Government to take over the sale of pip fruits within New Zealand. As from the Dominion Fruit Conference a deputation waited on the ftlinister for Marketing with an identical request, but were advised that export sales would of necessity have to be included if the Government were to assume control. Discussions on this phase of the matter, coupled with the wage agreement and subsidy arrangement, were frequent and lengthy. Finally the Government refused to continue the subsidy, consequent upon which wage negotiations broke down, remaining as gazetted for 1938, since when a general request for the State purchase of pip fruits at a fixed price has been presented to the Government. RESEARCH FINANCE “The problem of orchard research work finance will require fuller attention in the near future, if the undoubted benefits of such investigations are to be reaped by those engaged in fruit-growing. “A most instructive and valuable demonstration dealing with spray pressure and nozzle types was given, rather late in the year unfortunately, by Mr G. G. Taylor, of the Plant Diseases Division, Scientific and Research Department, on which occasion the keen interest shown by growers to learn the latest developments in spray operations was most noticeable. i

“Export prices for last season were not satisfactory. Heavy supplies on the market with the quality not perhaps up to the usua 1 standard, in view of the high rainfall experienced just prior and during harvest, further aggravated by the unduly long periods elapsing between delivery at assembly point and udtimate discharge and sale; this in turn being the result largely of inadequate space bookings early in the season. “Fireblight still causes considerable concern, despite the excellent work being carried out by the Waimea Fireblight Committee. Fortunately no major outbreak has yet occurred in the orchards, but unceasing vigilance and ruthless eradication of infections are even more necessary, if a major infection is to be avoided. “The usual spraying and pre-harvest

lectures were held and well attended. “Packing classes were conducted in | Riwaka under the supervision of Mr J. ! O. Anderson, nine pupils being enrolled, ell of whom were actually packing fruit! in the season now concluding. “Owing to the resignation of Mr D. j Haining, owing to ill health, from the executive committee, a vacancy occur- j red which Mr K. J. Holyoake consented j to fill up to the date of this annual j meeting.” FRUIT INSPECTION In commenting on the matter of fruit | inspection the chairman said they had : lost Mr Stratford, whose place was j taken by Mr Anderson, and had wel- ' corned Mr Eddie as assistant inspector, j The additional assistant at the inspec- I tion depot had been sent away at a! busy period, which had been hardly J fair to growers as Mr Anderson was thus not able to make a sufficient num-1 ber of visits to the packing sheds. j LOCAL MARKET SUBSIDY ! In regard to local market subsidy, the j payment was considerably below expectations, and he thought they were just > as well off this year with no subsidy. ; Continuing, the chairman said that | recently the growers had asked the j Government to buy outright their crops j for next year and subsequent years, i Some growers thought that that would | be an end of their troubles; but assurn- j ing that the Government had all the i good-will possible towards the industry, j it, was. he considered, a mighty big job,! and, if it was to be carried out sue-! cessfully, would require the co-opera-1 tion of every grower. He had hoped there would have* been a larger attend- ( once of members at this the annual | meeting, as there never was a time when strength within the organisation i was more necessary than to-day. \

With regard to research finance, some contributions would, he said, have to be made; all were aware of the benefitsobtained, and the work carried out from year to year. Gratification was expressed by Mr Robinson at the cash balance on this occasion, which was a little higher than the previous year’s, and some expenses would be non-recur-ring.

Mr F. E. Clark congratulated the secretary on his report, which covered most of the activities of the association throughout the year. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Before vacating the chair Mr Robinson said he would like to thank those who had attended the meetings, and helped the association. He expressed regret that so few members took an active part in putting forward suggestions for the well-being of the industry, and hoped that more encouragement would be given the new president. He had occupied the position for three years, and thanked members for their support. In persuading Mr Robinson to occupy the chair for another term Mr K. J. Holyoake said that growers had had complete confidence in him. His foresight and volatile mind, linked with the ability of the secretary, made a very capable team. Mr Holyoake added that he felt sure it was the wish of 99 per cent, of the members that Mr Robinson should be president. Mr F. H. Cooper was of the opinion that Mr Robinson should not abandon the “ship” at this critical time in the industry. Mr Robinson was unanimously elected president. Others elected to office were:—Vicepresident, Mr F. E. Clark; secretary, Mr A. E. Lindup (re-elected); treasurer, Mr Godfrey Deck (re-elected); auditors, Messrs G. Allcott and W. J. Davis; executive committee, the two retiring members, Mr K. J. Holyoake (who had taken Mr Haining’s place) and Mr J. B. Scott were re-elected, and Mr P. T. Driver was elected to the vacancy created by Mr Clark being appointed vice-presi-dent. TRIBUTE TO SECRETARY In paying a tribute to the work of the secretary (Mr A. E. Lindup) the chairman said he had been in office since the inception of the association, and he (the president) doubted if any other membei could have done the work better. Pis services had been very much appreciated. It was decided that the subscription levy be the same as last year. Nominations for the Advisory Board would, the chairman said, be dealt with ai the next meeting. In reporting on the Advisory Boai'd meeting Mr Lindup explained that Mr Brunt had stated that the volume of trade did not warrant opening on Friday nights during the packing season, the local federation office. After discussion it was decided that, as members appreciated having the office open during last season, and had found the convenience afforded inestimable, a request be made to have it opened again during the 1940 season. (Messrs Clark and Driver.) It was also decided that remits for 1 conference be considered at the next j meeting of the association which was ; fixed for Monday, 29th May. Mr Cooper suggested that members forward remits to the secretary prior to the meeting. Mr Deck drew attention to the condition of the road leading to the wharf, and after deliberation it was agreed, on tbf motion of Messrs C. H. Mackay and G. Deck, that the Waimea County Council be written in respect to the state of Wildman Wharf road, and the likelihood of considerable damage being done to fruit going to the wharf. EXPORT CONFERENCE

Mr Lindup reported, in connection with the Advisory Board, that application had been received for 270 in

Dougherty apples. He also stated that the Export Conference would be held Ister in the year, probably in October, instead of holding the two conferences in one week, as previousJj'. The Advisory Committee, Mr Lindup said, were as concerned as the average grower. in regard to the local market subsidy.

Messrs T. C. Brash and J. Parker had ; been appointed a deputation to wait on j the Hon. W. Nash to see what could be I done. The question of pear storage, pre-cooling at Motueka. and at Welling- ! 1 on . were included in Mr Lindup's reI port, also the concern of growers rej garding the amount of russett. which j was considered due to frost. The Advisory Committee was, he said, en- | oeavouring to get some form of frostj recording which would be of value, ln- | formation was also being sought from ( Mr Lloyd Williams, Otago, regarding | frost fighting. i Mr Holyoake informed the meeting . that a federation officer had visited him jin regard to enquiries of production j costs. i Mr Lindup explained that information | was being obtained from three classes ot growers—the man with the large orI chards, those with medium, and the | owners of small orchards. It was decided (Messrs Holyoake and 1 Clark) that the necesisty of having a , fully representative list of growers, | growing average lines of fruit, be point- ! ed out to the federation, in their inves- . tigation to ascertain cost of production. LEMON MARKETING The chairman read a lengthy letter from the Director of Marketing to all v. ho market lemons, in which regulat.uns as to classification, packing, standard cases, lists of receiving depots and disposal of lemons, was fully dealt with. Members expressed the opinion that conforming to the regulations would create a hardship for lemon growers in the Motueka district who grow small quantities and would not be permitted to sell to local stores. Mr Lindup said that the Advisory Committee had already approached Mr Picot. Director of Marketing, to receive exemptions for Mr Adamson s district, r.nd that if exempted not to be allowed to sell outside the area. This, if granted, would prove an casement lot growers in the district named.