FRUITGROWERS' CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14288, 3 May 1917, Page 7

FRUITGROWERS' CONFERENCE.

(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, last night

At the Fruitgrowers' Conference today a committee was appointed to consider the question of standardising of cases. It was decided : That the registration fee for orchard brands be ss. That the Government ba asked to provide better facilities for transit of fruit by road, railways, etc. That from July 1 a charge of 6d for bushel cases and 3d> for half -bushel cases be made by all growers belonging to the Federation. That a uniform system of branding be used to donate the grade of the contents. Two remits were offered ;to the Federation Executive, one regarding the conservation of - case timber and planting of it in suitable districts, and the other proposing that the Government be asked to place an export duty on white pine, and plant in areas adjacent eto fruitgrowing districts trees that would eventually be useful for fruit cases.

It was stated that the Executive already had the question of timber supply and conservation well in hand.

The question of entering into negotiations with timber merchants in America and elsewhere for a supply of casing timber for members of the Association was referred to the executive.

The conference .^decided, at the request of the Agricultural Department, t<> give lectures in various centres on the necessity for spraying for codlin moth at 'least once a montb in summer, and also that every effort be made to fight brown rot, and arrangements be made with the Government to carry out a series of experiments.

It was decided that the Federation consider the advisability of suggesting legislation providing for tbe formation of local vigilance committees with power to compel orchard owners to keep' their orchards clean or destroy them. Remits dealing with the establishment and development of markets, provision of central ' packing sheds, and matters of general policy were referred to the executive.