THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13997, 29 January 1916, Page 6

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

MBET?NG OF GROWERS AT STOKE

ADDRESS BY MR H. G. HILL

About; seventy-five fruitgrowers of Stoke and the Waijneas met in the Stoke Hall last night to hear aJi address by Mr H. G. Hill, of Wellington, ou the necessity for co-operation and i"edor3tion to ensure the success of tho fruitgrowing industry. The chair was occupied by Mr A. MoKec, president of tho Nelson Fruitgrowers' Association, who said the. meeting was--one <-f the largest of its kind that Jbn-d beeit held in tb^vdistrict. «. ■;. .'.,-.

■' ,Mr. Hill said.fcthey iad -vio- consider whether the newessitj: for. ay organisation -to ensui^ «tl>e cp-eperatipir fedelTition of ,iliose v -exigagod in ttio iruit industry iii the -Nelson ■ province. In the fir.st place'it seemed :to.-.lum *o 'i>e quite •clear-that the present, markets could net absorb the fruit that .be produced in a few years' time. It had been stated that c ;e;e would bo over-pa-oductkm, but tl;at was i;ot the right term to use. They should bo o.ble ho produce up to iho limit of their capacity. The point was t<> fiii'.l r.ew markets ar.d ]iri|>iovo the con.ditioiis in those they i.ow hold. Mr Hill <!:r>v.cd that the preser.i- methods, or rather, the lack of inothods, was causing considerable loss to tlio growers, and iv^tancad t-Jiebei^fit.-; .tlio butter _ Ln^!iipt> had-received 'from-co-operation and the grading of the butter. The s-anie methods ■coiild, and should, bo ii.dopiocl with regard to fruit. He weiit os! to shew that the individual -effort of the growers v/a-s lost, aiui that it wiis necessary to co-O}>er;ite to get. the denrcd results. ul wnni to state frankly,'' said Mr LJill, "that in my opjnion, t!u- growers must »'(r;iJist?' that the growing and commwcial ■parts of the industry are distinct, and that lit-rause 1 lie gi'ower is -successful in the prodwetion of fruit, it d»as not follow that he lias any k::.o\vlcdige of business r::ot!u,ds." I

Mr Hill outlined h sdscine for .dividing the ]Sti.so:> nrovince into dis'Urict.si ■ea^'h district to be controlled by a company formed— if not already in existonce—to c-riitioi the grading and storage of fruit, the selling being conductfed by a provincial company, the shareholders of wlr-ci! would he the district coi/'panies. Mr Hill went into ths whole tchenio at considera-blo length, axid it was evident from the- remarks made by various speakers idiat it was on acceptable lines. Mr T.~ C. C Scott moved to the effect thab the meeting appoint delegates to confer with representatives from other districts and Mr Hill with, a view to r l>riiigin£ down .a defiuito proposal ve--gat'din^ the federation of the- whole district. In speaking to the motion Mr Sc-ott said they had listened -to thfe; best speech on the subject over de-| livered ia the t'.istrict, and it behoved j them to do soir<ethiiig, definite. After a great deal of discussion had taken place, the _ following resolution j was carried unanimously, •on the mo-j tion of ~Mr A Gilbert, seconded by Mr M. M Bolt, "That Mr Hill be. accorded 43, \-ote of thanks, and that he bo iuvitod to confer vvith the'provisional di-' •rectors <ur the propo&ed company !tor' -the pui*]>oso of '■' organising ■■' n- -compair.' j -in the district.-'' j Mr Hili who -will.-remain m this dis-.j ■fcrici'fqr ahout r, fortnight, will meet Ulie provisional directors- .at-Stoke to-; .3iigkt. ; ' " ■'•' ; ■ ' |