DUNSTAN DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW AND THE FRUITGROWERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14447, 13 February 1909, Page 5

DUNSTAN DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW AND THE FRUITGROWERS.

Sin,—A letter imider tho above heading by " Fruit-grower" appeared iti your issue of Tmir.v-.lay tet. As anyone iiKorcvtted in tho ciuosticn could a-*.<;waiii tho i'acts by a glanco at the sooely's seltcdufcs, which »rc fairly widely _ circulated, it. would not bo worthy of hockm, were it not so palpably written with the pmposo of injuring l'i" reputation of tlio socaty. " i'riiitt'roivor" miwt. indeed be a novice if ho ttocs not recognise such names a$ Ivoirten, Wa.is'ht, .MarkJand, ami Freed, as persona actively engaged in the fruit industry. Jlon:ove,r, if 1m has ever visited any of tho sccety's shows he must know that such mill as K. Dawson (Convoys), Gccrgo Dirk (Messrs Howden awl ilor.criolf, Alexandra), and Lve Bow (Butntere* (iuU.v) have ten, and kill aro, Arnojiijfjt the staunchcst' i-rr.-s of this institution. Tho lato JaiiKii Bodkin, of Memo Ohru-to, one of our largest local growers, to also a loyal jKM-r:' in am! I.xo'i exhi'bitor. At the coining show next week I think there will Ik, with pcriii'iis the exosptacn of '* I'Vuil grower,'' ail exhibit from every orohardtet in this locality. " Bruit-grower " to be afraid that I}-,-ore will 1* no exhibit of fruit worth nicmtioiiinor at the show. Well, I am preparod to Iwek my opinion, and 1 make liiin ilie following oiler:—Let liim put 20 entries of fruit in the show. I will pay his entry money for him, and if ho gets two or mcaw priz-ce par £1 k to the Ijimsiuii Hospital, or to himself 'personally, which ever ho pi :fere. If Ik fails lie ahal! liattvl a like ami over to tho Dmi»tu.n Hospital, Yc.it have tho gentleman's card, but I think I scarcely require it.—l am., C-tc.,

8. A. Stbvsxs, rrcfkknt Dy.intan District Horticultural Soeiolv. Clyde, February 12. Slit—No doubt "Fruit-grower's'' letter onder this heading; will receive suitable reply from the present executive oflicers of tho society, but 1 feel failed 111:011 to reply liecJiu.« II) I was president of llie society when the hisl show was held; (2) the inviting of a Minister and the Olago members of Parliament to hi present at tire show was first suggested by me; (a) I personally persuaded those particularly concerned with the banquet at Roxburgh io Mr ltobert Scott, M.f\, lo alter trie dale of their banquet so thai members of Parliament attending the banquet might first attend the show; (4) 1 have persuaded several of the Roxburgh fruit-growers to exhibit at the show, representing lo them that if is a rather large and important institution.

Of course, there is no jnoint about "Fruit-grower's'' letter. It is merely a malicious attempt to damage the show, by making it appear that fruit-growers <}o not receive fair treatment at the society's shows, and, therefore, ".sleer clear. ,:

" l''ruir-grower" speaks of 11 " rumour to the effect thai orchardists in tho Alexandra and Uniisiau districts (with one or two exemptions) decline to exhibit at the society's «hows." lam constantly moving about in these districts, and can safely say that outside "Fruit-grower" ike rumour docs not exist. Ho has it all to himself.

Owiiij to the urgent need of irrigation there are not a large number of "fruitgrowers in the districts named, and yet I can supply the following list of fruitgrowers who support our shows by cxhiteting and otherwise:—Messrs Dawson, Iversen. Terry, Annan, Dkk (of 'i\le»si« Howdrn and Moncrief), Lvo Bow, Ab Wye, Bodkin, Noble, and l'Wd. This list is from memory, and possibly I may have lefr out a name or two which should be included.

As showing-ilie growth of the Dunstan District Horticultural Society I conclude with the following extract from my report for bust y,:ar, which is printed in the society's schedule: — First Last Year. Year. (1) Number of members ... 35 ... 57 |2) Total turnover £20 ... £49 (3) .\'umb?r of special prizes... 20 ... 40 (4) Number of exhibits at, show 282 ... 559 Our friends at Alexandra. Cromwell, and Roxburgh have- begun to realise that thev can exhibit with success, and that the special provisions we make {or taking care of and staging exhibits sent from a distance puis distant exhibitors on as advantageous a footing as more local exhibitors. -1 am, ete., W. A. Pi. FrrciiETT. Dun-tan Vicarage, Clyde.