LOWER MOUTERE FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13456, 29 June 1912, Page 6

LOWER MOUTERE FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

The usual monthly meeting of the Lower iVloutero Fruitgiowers' Association was held on "Wednesday evening, Mr H. \J. Holdaway piesiding. J'ho ioi owing eoiiesponacnc© \\a.s dealt -v\ ith: — V rom Messrs,. Ridley,. Houlding and Co., of London, stating that-tho Kaipara .shipment.of apples had landed in good order and condition. '.They regretted that none of this" B hipnient liad been consigned to tJiem. ,('lhe Ivaipara's shipment was supplied through Messrs: E. liuxton and Co., Ltd.) Messrs. Ridley, Houlding and Co stated,that they did not approve of tlie route via Frisco (Mr. Capes' shipment) as the expenses in transnipment would bo too' groat, also the fruit would be subject to two or three changes oi"-temperature, i (This fruit was sold in Vancouver by Ridley, Houlding; and Co.is" New Zealand representative, Mr. Capes.)- - A quotation for arsenate of lead was received from the New -Zealand Farmers' Co-Operative Distributing Co., Wellington. A letter was read from the secretary of- the Nelson. District Fruitgrowers' Association, requesting-payment of subscrrption to the Dominion"• Federation hof Fruitgrowers, the annual'conference of which will be held in,.Wellington on the 30th and 31st July next. -... " Tho district, also forwarded a letter f torn'the Secretary for Agriculture stating .that the list of remits passed at tiie. last conference was under consideration by the Hon. Thomas •Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture. Mr. E. H. Beecroft, 'president of the Port Albert Fruitgrowers' Association, Auckland, wrote stating that their association had assisted in a shipment of apples to the Argentine. Miv .Beecroft also wrote favourably in reference to tlio -good qualities of "Montauk!," for spraying fruit trees. ... Mr. Holdaway said that Messrs Ridley, Houlding and Co.'s representative had paid out the full amount originally guaranteed,'and also promised to'supply sale noteg for the fruit sold in Vancouver.

It was decided that the" secretary write to a firm of brokers in Vancouver for information as to the suitability of that quarter as a market for apples, and to ask the firm for a report on the shipment sent there this season. The New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Vancouver will also be asked * for particulars.

Mr. Thorpe, orchard instructor,- gave an interesting address; He informed the members that he had 'received instiuctions from tho Department of Agriculture to hold spraying and pruning demonstrations in the district.

After discussing this matter it was decided to hold tlie demonstration on Tuesday next, the 2nd July. Mr Mackay undertook to arrange with an orchardist in a central -position. Mr. Taoon suggested that the senior school boys be invited to attend.

On Mr Tacon's motion the following remits were passed, to be forwarded to tho Dominion conference:—

That tlie Government be asked to assist with the erection of cool stores for fruit.

That the Government be asked to offer a substantial bonus for the discovery of a remedy for the eradication of the "White Blight." That the Government bo asked to proclaim fruit areas :in different districts, with a view of combatting fruit pests. Mr. Hudson proposed tho following remit: That the question of raising tlie necessary funds for the Dominion Federation bo taken into consideration.

Mr. Tor-ode, manager of tho Moutere Association's distributing depot, reported that the dopot was progressing satisfactorily. - During the month some 373 cases of applet, had been .shipped, while orders iii; hand amounted to 94 cases. ,

; Mr. Tillson recommended growers to try, as a winter -fungicide spray, s.ulphatoof copper, lib to L25 gallons of water; no lime to be used. '

This concluded a most interesting; meeting.