NEW ZEALAND FRUITGROWERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19196, 12 June 1924, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND FRUITGROWERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. REMITS DISCUSSED. (Pee United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, June 11. The annual conference of the New Zear . land Frutigrowers’ Association opened today. Mr A. M. Robertson (Hawke’s presiding. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Nosworthy), in the course of an interesting address (published elsewhere in this issue) congratulated delegates on the improved outlook of the industry. The following remits were referred;.to.a committee, arid subsequently a deputation will wait on the Minister concerning mom: Teviot.—That owing to the loss sustained annually by fruitgrowers in the transport of fruit through the present .incomplete, system of ventilation of fruit trucks, the Minister of Railways be asked further to consider the introduction of modern, trucks for fruit ‘ traffic. Upper Ciutha.—That better fruit trucks be supplied at Cromwell for the carrying ot next season’s fruit. Henderson.-Thai (he railway authorities be asked to provide a greater number of fruit wagons for the Auckland province. Hawke’s Bay.—That the Railway Depart* r mens be asked to keep up the supply of fruit .wagons in accordance with the increased production of fruit. . 'lt- was resolved:—‘That as there is a possibility of the extension of the railway from Beaumont not proceeding past «. Miller’s Flat—its present objective—this .?,!-, conference, through the federation, urges upon the. Government the necessity of ex* bending it is far 'as Roxburgh.” . Without discussion the following remit from Huapai was agreed to:—‘‘That in view of the recent Order-in-Council staling that the Railway Department may sell-by ' auction any fruit left at the station longer than six hours, the Government be approach ed with a view to having this order as applied to fruit rescinded, on the grounds That as it is not always possible for a consignee to remove fruit within the time stated and undue hardship and loss is apt to result.” It was decided to recommend that in (he list of varieties of apples for export to South America Cleopatra and Newtown Pippin should be included. Mr Moody (UpperClutha) moved:—-“ThafC" ■- the department should be asked what ia being done in the matter of an orchard,..... instructor for Central Otago.” Hecaid it ■ ( seemed impossible to got any time at all— I ''! from the busy instructor jn Central Otago.-mm Another spcnkei said it was absolutely; I impossible for (he man whose duty it. was . , to cover the district to cope with the x ( work. The department's representative,' J Mr Campbell, said there was a big strain :* I '' cn the officers to cope with the * work, but 1 possibly the position would he remedied in the near future. They were doing their best ro have men appointed for Central Otago. It was decided to support the request. FRUIT’ CONTROL Mr T. C. Brash moved as follows: ”(1) That this conference urges the need of a Fruit Control Act and instructs the board to set up a committee to work in thia behalf.” (2) ‘That the Act be divided into two sections, the first of these being dominion-wide dealing with fruit for export; and the second being provincial in its . operations, to he applied only at the i;o-,...... quest of the majority of provincial growers in the province.” Mr Brash said he was'’,;' strongly in favour of control. The pro- -j ~ ducers had been difficult to organise and , hold together. That had been the downfall of many co-operative companies. The idea of control was that immediately a move was made the whole of the producers wore - behind it- It would be urged that the . hoard would become autocratic and that it would go against the wishes of the producers. No board could remain in office and go against the popular wish of the producers. Ho did net think it was possible for all the producers to' pool their fruit, but it might be possible for pools within the provinces. The different districts had : their fruit ready at different times. The Bill which was suggested provided for Gov-. , eminent representation, and he thought , that it was reasonable that the Control. Board should have power to make a snipping ' contract, a power which no board has today. Marine insurance soon would become a big thing, and if this were put into the hands of a body it might be able to make an arrangement to the general benefit. The department would become a board which, would be able to speak for the whole of the growers of the dominion. The board would have the power to make a levy to pay expenses. As to local control tho Bill . gave to .each province the right to a local contral board if it voted it in. , Eventually it wag resolved that the conference should urge on Parliament tha necessity for an Export Fruit Control Act on the lines which had been set out, but with provision for fixing the maximum levy for making it impossible to market fruit from any district, on a pooling system unless at tho express desire of that province as indicated by a poll of exporters. Mr 11. S. Izard (Auckland) moved: “That this conference approves of the terms of . tho Fruit .Control Bill in so far as it is , rotated to local control, but subject to. the fruit being divided into tliroe classes— ■ pip, stone, etc., and citrus, and to separate voting papers being issued to the growers of each class.” This had not been voted on when the conference rose for the day.