N.Z. FRUITGROWERS’ FEDERATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 8

N.Z. FRUITGROWERS’ FEDERATION.

Tiic secretary of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation has sent out a circular to all branches, enclosing a copy of the report of the federation’s executive meeting held in Wellington on the 12th and 13th May, also copy of the constitution as remodelled and approved by the executive. This will come up for confirmation at tho conference to be held on the 4th, sth, and 6th "of August at Wellington It is desired that tho conference be fully representative of all parts of the Dominion. Each association is requested to send as many delegates as possible, and in addition any other fruitgrowers desiring to attend will he cordially welcome. The Railway Department is being approached through the Minister of Agriculture to grant delegates to the conference the same concessions as are granted to friendly societies and religious bodies. Associations are requested to arrange for short papers on matters of interest to growers to be road at the conference. Societies that meet infrequently are requested to call special meetings to appoint delegates, consider tho constitution, and make suggestions for its improvement-, and to draw up remits and forward them to the secretary to the federation at tho earliest possible date. The following are matters that might form the basis of remits for the conference: Approval and amendments to tho federation constitution. Further approval of the orchard registration fee of Is per acre. Dominion Fruit Show at conference, 1916. Damage to fruit in transit by sea and rail. Fruit loading in cradles, not slings. More fruit trucks on rail. Export of fruit regulations. Local sale of fruit regulations. Spraying materials purity guarantees. More export instructors. Supply of manures through federation. Supply of spray materials through federation. Supply of fruit case timber through federation Shipping contracts. Space and fruit chambers for London. New markets sought by federation and Government.

Self-registering thermometers on fruit steamers. Trial shipments—export of pears. Through booking of fruit. Wrapping paper duty removal. Duty on case-timber and nails. Second-hand cases -brands effaced and sterilised. Uniform eases. Fruit agents in South America and I.ondon. Tree-planting for case-timber, etc., etc. The circular asks what action is being taken in each district in getting the petition to the Minister of Agriculture signed. This is the most important matter connected with the industry at the present time, as the Minister of Agriculture’s undertaking to collect the fees and hand them to the federation is subjest to a majority of the fruitgrowers affirming their desire for this. Any further amounts contributed on the Is an acre basis in each district should be forwarded to the federation by the middle of July. These will be subsidised by the Government pound for pound.

SHIPMENT OF FRUIT.

GOOD PRICES IN LONDON. WELLINGTON, June 16. The Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce has been advised by the High Commissioner that a consignment of eight cases of New Zealand fruit shipped to linden per the Rotorua in April, arrived in splendid condition,- with the exception of one case of Bcurre Bos pears. The fruit was retailed by Ilarrod’s Fiores, London, and realised the following pr.ces : Pears.— P. Barry, 50s per case; V» inter Nelis, 275. Apples.—Munroo’s Favourite, 21s; Jonathan, 18s to 20s; Delicious, 13a.