SUMMARY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14142, 19 July 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUMMARY.

THE FRUBT INDUSTRY.

AMALGAMATION OF GROWERS' COMPANIES,

AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT

'From "The Colonist," Jnno 27.) The most imports ab development that iss taken place ,in tho fruit industry luring its history in iliis district was lecided upon yesur'day. For sometime >ast there has beer. ;i \oiy strong feeing amongst growers in the Nelson district that the time had arrived for all jompanies or proposed companies to oin hands and make one solid combination for the whole district. As reported in theso .columns from time to bime, Mr H. G. Hill has been the movLng spirit, and his efforts have at last borne fruit.

A meeting of the shareholders of the Montere Fruitgrowers, Ltd.,. was held in Motueka on Saturday last, 'when it was- decided to empower their directors bo meet the directors of the Nelson District Fruitpaekers, Ltd., and the-Nelson Ck>operative Fruitgrowers, Ltd. (T.asnxan), and make whatever arrangements they thought desirable in the interests of their shareholders.. Accordingly/the directors, of the Moutere Fruitgrowers, Ltd., met in Nelson yesterday, and decided to'-amalgamate with the Nelson District-Eniitpaclwrs,--Ltd. This moans that the-Montere-.Fruitgrowers, Ltd., will go into ■-■voluntary' liquidation, and their shareholders" will take up shares in the. Nelson District Fruitpackers, Ltd. Provision is mao.e whereby the growers on the wesi> side of the Moutero will have equal rights with those on the Nelson side. The statutory meeting will be held at Upper Moutere on Wednesday, August 2nd, when the permanent directors will be elected. Proposals will bo submitted to that meeting allocating to each district (if such district so desire) the right of appointing one or more directors. The idea'is that every part of the districts to be covered will be able to claim representation on the board of directors. The provisional director 'it the Nel-i son District-FruitpaeVors, Ltd., have! already instructed the general manager to make preliminary inquiries with regard to the erection of evaporating, cider, and vinegar works, and requests have been made to the Department, of Agriculture' for the resistance of an expert to advise on ai! these inf.tters. No time is to be lost on this important matter, but no definite policy- will be adopted until the permanent directors a 1-0 appointed. Mr ,T. 'Bowden has been appointed by Mr Hi' 3 'the general manager and broker) as the fepresentative of the company irn Motueka and dietricb. A canvass will he made immediately of the whole' district. ■ thus bringing about the consolidation of the industry on comprehoasive co-operative lines. '" •