TAIERI FRUITGROWERS’ ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21650, 21 May 1932, Page 15

TAIERI FRUITGROWERS’ ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Taieri Fruitgrowers’ Association was held on Wednesday evening. Mr John Watt presided over a good attendance. The principal business was the consideration of the annual report and balance sheet. The year’s transactions showed a decrease which might be accounted for by the fact that growers had cut supplies to a fine point, and also that supplies of all descriptions had been_ considerably reduced in price. The direct discounts returned to members had averaged 7 per cent. The fact that the federation had received £l4O Is 4d, showed that - the Taieri Association was a strong supporter of the parent body. Special mention was made of a lecture given during the year by Dr Cunninghame. of the Palmerston North Research Station, on sprays and spraying. Regarding the local market, it was to be regretted that the, prices of fruit this season were far from satisfactory, but the fruit on the Taieri had been exceptionally good, and heavy crops had been harvested. Dealing with export, the report stated that the total number of eases shipped from Otago this year had'' dropped from 100,000 to 29,30,.. One of the causes had been the severe frost in the Ettriek district. The export from the Taieri had been 4200 cases. Two new shippers had entered the export— Mr John Watt,,of East Taieri, and Mr James Bathgate, of Outram. Regret was expressed that the fruitgrowers had lost the services of Mr Turner,/but the loss suffered here would be compensated tor by the good work he would do on tne Control Board in London. Thanks were expressed to Mr A. Miller, who attended to the distribution of supplies for the Mosgiel district. The report was adopted. Office-bearers w r ere elected as follows: President, Mr John Watt; vice-president, Mr R. Dowie; committee—Messrs d. Watt A. Miller, R. Dowie, J. Bathgate, and Gillan; Finance Committee—Messrs Miller, Watt, and the, secretary and treasurer (Mr Alexander M'Donald); auditors: Messrs Miller and Dowie, The secretary was voted the same honorarium as last year.