THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14142, 19 July 1916, Page 2

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

MEITING AT LOWER MOUTERE

Between thirty and forty fruitgrow ers were orpsent at the LoAver Mouter

Hall <;n Monday evening to hear addresses on the much discussed question of marketing fruit. Mr. Charles li. Mackay presided, and in his opening remarks referred to the importance ■of

conceited action if anything definite Ayas to. be accomplished. He gave a resume of the position since they had last met in that hall, and stated that the directors of the Moutere FruitgroAv-

ers, Ltd., had discussed threadbare the Avhole matter as to Avhom they would amalgamate Avith, and they had unanimously decided to. join forces. Aviih the Nelson' District Fruit-packers, Ltd. It Avas, he considered, the forerunner

of one big company for the Avhole district. (Applause.)' Mr 'H. G. Hill Avas the first speaker, Mr. W. S. Snodgrass being absent on account of Silver Bullet business Mr.

Hill dealt Avifch matters connected with the N.D.F. in a manner that has been fully reported in these columns before. He broke a geed deal of neAv ground, howeA-er, by referring to criticisms that had been lately made in the papers. "The capital 'of the N.D.F. is not £5000, as one Avriter stated; it is £20,000, Avith over 8,000 genuine applications already on the register of the company," * said Mr. Hill. "To make such foolish .statements as only having sufficient capital to pay salaries, etc., reveals the utter lack of know-

ledge of the first principles of business. Salaries are not paid out of capital, they are paid out of revenue." If the argument used held Avater, the position of the companies quoted would be the same in principle but different only in degree. Coming to the question of the N.D.F. taking over liabilities of a j company that did not go to registration, Mr. Hill said that "people who live in glass houses should not throw stones." The Nelson-Stoke company did not go to registration for reasons that were' fully explained. Instead of going to the shareholders again with the same company, it was thought desirable to enlarge it, for the feeling throughout tho district Avas for a* provincial scheme. To this end a comuany Was floated called the Nelson District Fruitpackers, Ltd. The large majority of the shareholders in the Nelson-Stoke Company are shareholders in the N.D.F., so that practically it was going to tho same shareholders twice. Mr. Hill contended that there was another company Avhich had done the same thing, and consequently its shareholders had to boar the expense of the first failure, the very thing that one of its directors complained about in the N.D.F. With regard to amalgamation. Mr. Hill said there Avas no \ more ardent supporter of it than' himself. When he first came to Nelson to report on the position as he found, it, he stated that the multiplicity of companies in the district was, in his opinion, detrimental to the best interests of the industry. - Mr. Hill road the minutes

of a meeting held at Upper Moutere on May sth. Those present were Messrs R. P. Hudson, J. Sharp, C. H. Mackay, W. W. Anderson, W. A. J. Briggs (representing Moutere Fruitgrowers, Ltd.), W. G. Russell, A. Gilbert, Leslie Reynolds, E. B. Izard, H. G. Hill (representing Nelson-Stoke Fruitgrowers, Ltd.) and F. E. Nottage, G. Stratford, D. Haining, C. Higgs (representing Nelson Co-operative Company, Ltd., Tasman). The minutes showed that Mr Hudson Avas elected chairman, and Mr Hill secretary, also that "Mr Nottage asked leave to make his position quite clear to the meeting. The directors of the Nelson-Stoke and

Moutere companies Avere there as the result of arrangements made between themselves and their shareholders, but his colleagues and himself were not

able to take part in the discussion on behalf of their company, but would be pleased to do so as individuals, and would use their best endeavours to bring about the desired end, because they were all agreed that the district company Avas the only practical solution ol: the difficulty they had found themselves in." Tlie minutes further Showed that Mr Hill had drafted a prospectus for the provincial company. the clauses being taken seriatim, and passed. The prospectiis provided that the Nelson Co-operative (commonly known as Tasman), Nelson-Stoke and Hie Moutere Fruitgrowers' were to amalgam atp, the neAV company taking over the liabilities of each, *A committee consisting of Messrs A. Gilbert, Leslie Reynolds, W. G. Russell,-,, and 11. G. Hill were appointed to complete the. prospectus as the meeting had ! agreed, and Mr Hill Avas appointed | delegate to go to Wellington and inter- ! view the directors of the Nelson Co-op. (Tasman) Company. The result of that interview was that the directors of that company con id not see their Avay clear to to as y as. suggested.- "It a* ill be seen." said Mr Kill, "who .Avanted amalgamation and avlio did not." Hoavevor. •continued Mr Hill, the position had to be faced, and his company was prepared to do all in its power to amalgamate. even at this, late hour. These sentiments n-et \visl hearty approval from the audience. Mr W. G. Russell (Stoke) gave some very inlerestinp; experiences that had ['alien to- his lot, showing more than ever the necessity for up-to-date business organisation to deal with I their fruit. He had been closely associated with Mr Bill during his work in Nelson, and lie was satisfied the very largo growers wanted one big company. ■■ , Air F. J. Hall, president of the

■Stoke Fruitgrowers' Association, stated that he had, .hesitated a good deal before goiug into the, N.D.F., but af- ■ ter going into the.matter thoroughly he was convinced the company was on right lines, and ' would be a great,sue-, cess. He was proud to be" a director of the company. Mr C. B. Buxtoh, of Wellington, and-lately of Auckland, said he was, a visitor to the district, but had1 made the apple question a^close study for some few years. He endorsed what Mr Hill had said about the necessity for amalgamation of interests, so as-to make one big company. Only recently he had been discussing overseas apple \ trade with the general manager of a . very big shipping line, and he was informed that there were plenty of markets waiting abroad for our fruit. In discussing the details, it was made quite clear to him, said Mr Buxton, that the Americans bought on brands, and as he was impressed with the necessity for having as few brands as possible, and those controlled by" one company. Fruit from Hood River (America) was the only line that Coyent Garden' (London) would sell without opening the cases. Why? Because^xif the splendid system, of-pro-ducing only good fruit, and knowing how to grade, pack and market. He gave some very interesting and instructive experiences he had had in Tasmania, arid in reply to a question by Mr Hall, stated that Nelson could not be excelled in the apples it specialised in. There was no fear as to the future if they were organised. In view of the interesting table compiled by Mr Hill, it shotted how necessary it was to hurry-on the business so as to be prepared to meet the increase when it arrived. (Applause). Mr J. D. Asbury gave a few interesting remarks on the value of by-pro-ducts, which Mr G. Cooper .supplemented with his experiences of making whey butter at the Kaupokonui"Dairy' Company, Taranaki. A great-many questions were'asked and answered to -the apparent satisTaction of the audience. After the usual votes of thanks were 'joyed and carried, it was unanimously passed 'That it be a recommendation to the directors of the Nelson District J'ruitpackers, Ltd., that whatever steps they deem necessary should be taken to bring about an amalgamation between then- company and the Nelson Co-operative Fruitgrowers Ltd "— Communicated.