LOWER MOUTERE FRUITCROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13809, 25 August 1913, Page 4

LOWER MOUTERE FRUITCROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

The usual monthly meeting of the above association was held in the local hall on Wednesday evening. In the absence of the chairman (Mr. H. 0. Holdaway) Mr. P. G. Moffatt presided. It was resolved on the motion of Mr. Mackay, seconded fey Mr. Alf. Herrick, that a letter of sympathy be sent to Mr. Holdaway, expressing a hope that he would have a speedy recovery from his recent trap accident. The following correspondence was read:—-From the Stoke Fruitgrowers' Association stating that a notice of motion was tabled at their last meeting: "That with the idea of providing means to work the Dominion Fruitgrowers' Federation, a levy of Jd per case be collected from members of fruitgrowers' associations, the same to be paid by the Ist July of each year." From Mr. P. G. Moffatt, secretary of the Nelson District Fruitgrowers' Association, pointing out the necessity for some scheme for providing funds to work the Dominion Association. The Dominion conference would be held next month, when the matter would be brought up. The District Association also advised that the sixth annual meeting will beheld in Mercer's rooms, Nelson, on October 4th next, and asked for remits to be sent in after the local association's meeting in September. From Mr. T. R. H. Archer, Christchurch, secretary of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation, stating that the annual conference would be held in Wellington on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of September. This conference would be opened by the Hon. W. F. Massey. The secretary asked for remits. From Mr. A. S. Mitchell, consulting engineer, in answer to enquiry re cost of cool stores. Mr. Mitchell estimated a3 follows: —No. 1, 10,000 case capacity; No. 2, 20,000 case capacity. No. 1: Buildings, cool store, packing and grading room and offices, for running 8 hours per day £5000, or if to run 24 hours this price could be reduced by £1000. Thi3 plant would be similar to the one Mr. Mitchell has just designed for the Hastings Fruitgrowers' Company, Limited, the packing and grading floor space in this case being 80ft x 50ft. No 2: Premises, and plant £7,500 to run 12 hours per •t!ay, if run 24 hours per day £700 less. In both cases the motive power would be a suction gas plant, and the buildings to have electric light throughout. The meeting decided to hand the information to the Motueka Harbou* Board for discussion at its next meet-

ing. From the Department of Agriculture, enclosing a letter from Mr. L. Bowman, apiary inspector, stating that the Act of 1907 in reference to box hives being replaced by proper hives would bo enforced. The Agricultural Department also advised that the copy of the new regulations in regard to the export of fruit would be supplied to the association when ready. The Department supplied the-. Ws.es as under for the ; newexport ease :~j|ead, lOin. x 11-Jin. x fin.; sitfo .-two pieces, sin. x 21 Jin. x 5-16*a. ; bottom two pieces, Clin. x 21J in, X 5-16 in.; top, one piece, llin. x 2Uin. x 5-16 in. ~ , ~ , Mr. R. P. Hudson said ho could nor, endorse the Stoke Association's views in regard to providing funds for the Dominion Federation. This system would mean voluntary contributions; it would be taxing members of associations only. If a levy or tax wa* to fy> imposed it should. .56 universal, and supplied '$$ all fruitgrowers. If the* Federation wWs to be an advantage, every grower would benefit, and therefore every grower should contribute in proportion to the amount of crop b.o produces. It Was . resolved that tho Anchor Company bS written to re concessionon passages to' Wellington for the delegates atteii^lM ill© Dominion conference. The fcllofi'ltfg delegates were nominated: Messrs. i. D. Asbury* Haining, F. W. Herrick, and E. F, Anderson. Messrs Hudson, Holdaway, and Moffatt will represent raw Nelson District Association. t The following are the, remits fof th^ conference from the Nelson Distil | Association: — ! That the Government enforce a law ! making it compulsory for the vendor and manufacturers to make good on guarantee all spraying products." "That protection from deer be removed from fruit districts." "That a representative be sent to South America to place, the export business from the Dominion on a; firm basis." ~ ■ . , "That in view of the linking up by the Panama Canal of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the possibilities of fruit trade with the United States of America, the Government" be asked to secure space at the Panama Exhibition in 1915 to show sectional exhibits of New Zealand fruits." , The following remits go from tlio 'Mbutere Association: — "That the Government be approacned asking them to make it compulsory, for all spraying materials to be by Imperial weights and measures. "In the opinion of this association no further time should be lost in formulating some scheme for supplying funds for working tho Federation "That the Government be asked to assist in collecting a tax on fruit the same as has proved such n. success by the Tea Planters' Association in Cey"That the Government be asked to obtain the 'services' of more expert packers to instruct growers in the art of packing." In moving this complimentary reference was made to Mr. Thome, the district orchard inspector, who has given several lessons on packin o- during the past season.