FRUIT DISTRIBUTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12066, 23 July 1917, Page 4

FRUIT DISTRIBUTION.

CO-OPERATIVE COMPANY SUGGESTED. ADDRESSES TO GROWERS There, wn.s a large attendance of members of the Canterbury_ Fruitgrowers' Association at a meeting held on Saturday evening to hear addresses by Mr Alan Wilson (president of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation) and Mr F. J. Shelton (general manager of the federation). Mr C. P. Taylor presided in the absence of Mr J. Longton, the president, who is visiting Dunedin. . . , Mr Wilson, who was received witti applause, said that the time had come when the. fruitgrower wanted to get the full value for his fruit. The onlj way to do that, was to estalish a co« operative oomnany. It would be necessary to have all the growers united, in order that, the company would be a success. The Central Otago. growers were unanimous in supporting the pm ; posal. as they could see what a. gone thing it would be for themselves. Each district would have its own company, and the New Zealand Federation would help to &teadv the market. There would be more fruit consumed in the Dominion if the system of distribution was improved, and the only way to improve it to the satisfaction of the growers would he to form a co-opera-tive company. Mr Shelton said that the object of the. scheme was to ensure that the grower should obtain better result* from his labour. It would ensure, also that the consumer pot cheaper fruit. H all the growers sent their fruit to on« auction room it would be much cheaper for them. Tf there were six auction rooms in one town, it meant that six rents had to be paid and also that six auctioneers' staffs had to be kept up. The scheme would prepare the grower* for the export trade when it was opened. At present there was no standard case. There was a system of grading fruits, but it was not the best that could be obtained. Packing sheds should be established in the country, where the grading could be done. The disposal of tiie fruit should also be regulated. Many growers who had not been bothering about improving their businesses had now found out that growers in organised districts were doing far better. At present the grower had to purchase his own invoices and arrange for the forwarding of his fruit to the auction rooms.. This would all be done away with, if a company was formed, as all the grower would have to do would be to notify the manager of the company of his intention to sell his fruit and then the company would arrange for the fruit to be brought to the market. Tf a co-operative company was formed, the grower would always know how tin market stood. At present he did not Verv often the grower would find that there, wasjtoo much fruit on the market. Should that he the case when the growers had a company of their oirn, the manager could arrange, foi the fruit to be sent to another market. The speakers answered several questions and a. hearty vote of thanks wai accorded them.