FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATIONS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13391, 12 February 1914, Page 4

FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATIONS.

THE FEDERATION QUESTION

The Canterbury Fruit Growers' Association met on Saturday night, Mr. P. Sisson presiding. The "Press" reports that a letter was received from Mr. R. P. Hudson, president of the New Zealand Fruit Growers' Association, as follows: —"When waited upon by & deputation of the Federation executive last month, the Prime Minister intimated that, provided fruit growers' associations were practically unanimous in their approval of the orcharrl tax as decided on at the last conference, he would favourably consider laying the matter before Parliament. The ; executive accordingly formulated a scheme for personally approaching all associations in the Dominion with a view to obtaining their support. Since then the members of the Canterbury society passed a resolution that they 'absolutely refuse to support any Government compulsory tax on fruit growers.' The Canterbury association Hoes not propose any alternative means :of raising funds, and it is, of course, admitted that, without funds, no organisation can exist on anything like a business basis. We are therefore faced with, co far as I can see,, the necessity of dropping the Federation altogether and allowing our efforts of the past few years in the direction of organisation of our industry to fall through. It is hardly necessary to emphasise tho seriousness of such a retrograde step, and all for. apparently, the insignificant sum of 6d per acre per annum," a very small fraction of the loss even now being incurred through want of business organisation, the necessity for which will increase as time goes on. Over ten thousand acres have been planted in orchard within the last fivo years. With the opposition of the Canterbury association I do not consider any member of the executive could feel himself called upon to incur the personal expense and trouble whicb. would be entailed in carrying out the agreed upon scheme of waiting on the other associations, and I cannot help feeling there is nothing more the executive can do until growers realise the necessity of-supporting the Federation or some other system of sound organisation. Holding these views as I do. I feel it my duty to ask the executive to consider the advisability of relieving me of my position as president, and appointing a man in my place who can take a more hopeful view of the success of the scheme than T can."

It was stated that the letter was merely one for the executive, and all the Canterbury association could do w.i« to receive 'the letter.

This the association did