TEVIOT FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1890, 23 April 1892, Page 3

TEVIOT FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Teviot Fruitgrowers' Association was held in Ormond's Hotel, Roxburgh, last Monday evening. There was a large attendance, every grower belonging to the Association, with the exception of those who were out of the district, being present. Mr M. E. Manuel, President of the Association, presided. The Chairman, after congratulating the members on the improvement in prices on last season's fruit, called upon Mr Lorie (of Messrs Lorie and Co., Dunedin) to. detail the working of the new system by which all the fruit of the district had passed through the hands of Mr Lories firm.

Mr Lorie said it was almost unnecessary to mention that the results of tho past season's operations showed very conclusively to growers the advantages of their combiuing, even although prices outside of their own product had been lower than ever had been known before. Their own fruit showed a marked improvement in prices when compared with the previous year, and this comparison, too, with the prices realised by their own firm the year previously, which were admitted to be better than those from other sources. Growers were already aware that an audit of the returns to the Association of the last season showed that the improvement in this year's prices amounted to 20 per cent., and he had every confidence in stating that it rested with the growers only to show a further substantial increase. The cause of the increase in prices this season over those of last season was, of coarse, mainly owing to the absence of competition among themselves, although he thought his firm was entitled to some share of credit for the arrangements they had made for the disposal of the fruit retailers were unable to take, and which in former years was the cause of the low prices ruling. He was, of course, quite aware that certain members of the Association were of opinion that his firm had dealt altogether too liberally with the factory in treating with them this season ; but the experience of a season's working had only strengthened the opinion he expressed throughout that in serving the factory well they were best conserving their own interests. It must be clear to all that the time had come when they must look to larger purchasers than the retailers for the disposal of the fruit. Year by year their output was increasing, with no oorrespondingincreasein the population, which alone could improve the retailers' demand ; and they had consequently to look to the canning industry if they wished to avoid the glut and low prices of previous years. Now, it must be evident to them that if this canning industry could only increase by the local article supplanting the American, which at present held the market, he felt satisfied that the only sure way to effect this was by enabling the factory to turn out an article, at least, equal, if not superior, to the imported. This he bad endeavoured to do during the past season, and he felt convinced that next year would show such a demand for their fruit, as would warrant them in considerably extending their orchards. Regarding the public feeling concerning their Association,tbey were, of course, all aware that rival firms to their own had done their utmost to foment discord between the retailers and themselves, even going to the lengths of inducing some of the smaller country papers to comment hostilely on what they were pleased to term their monopoly. Now, however, that the season had closed, their customers, with one or, two exceptions, expressed their satisfaction with the way matters had been worked. The factory and the largest buyers especially were very pronounced in this opinion ; and it was significant that the only purchasers who still evinced a hostile spirit were those with whom their firm found it necessary to insist on cash transactions. As might, however,' have been expected, the early part of the season did not work quite as smoothly as the latter; and they had no difficulty in tracing their prosecution for having incorrect scales in their possession to their action in insisting on payment for the full weights of fruit consigned to : them. That their scales had been wilfully tampered with, the firm had very good evidence, which they would have adduced had Mr Carew not refused a rehearing of the case. However, it was very gratifying to them to find that their constituents stood so loyally by them ; it was, of course, evident to any thinking man that false scales could not in anyway benefit their firm, since a close audit of their books showed that it was not posssible for them to return any other weights to their consignors than those for which they were paid by the purchaser. On the question of bookkeeping, he would be glad to receive an opinion from the meeting whether they had any marked preference for their system over that adopted by other firms. If the latter would snit them as well as their own, they would prefer to adopt it, as it would enable them to effect a considerable saving in their clerical staff. He had laid the question of packing before them so frequently that he felt it almost unnecessary to again refer to it, further than to say that until they adopted the method he suggested they could not realise the full values of their fruit. He hoped the matter would receive their f nil consideration that evening. The weights of cases had been the cause of very much unpleasantness during the season. Personally he was satisfied that not a single grower would wilfully misrepresent the weight of a case ; but the difficulty arose through the fruit losing and the case gaining weight after it was packed. This had been very clearly proved by such of their number as had investigated the matter ; and although every effort had been made to adopt a system by which an allowance should be made, it was found the 'waste varied so much according to the ripeness and variety of the fruit that a solution appeared impossible. After giving the matter much consideration, he had, after consultation with the principal purchasers, come to the conclusion that the only way out of the difficulty was to arrange an uniform weight for the various classes of cases. After explaining the various kinds of fruits which he recommended them to plant, Mr Lorie said it now only remained for him to briefly recapitulate the various advantages they experienced by combining: — (1) They had a very marked reduction in railway freights; (2) an absence of competition; (3) an outlet for their surplus fruit all through the season, resulting in a marked improvement in prices; (4) they were paid for the fruit every week,and so escaped the great percentage of losses they had hitherto sustained ; (5) they were now, by a weekly circular from the firm, fully advised of the best methods of packing and of the most remunerative markets. Briefly he felt justified in saying that combination had enormously improved their position ; they bad now only to grow the fruit and need not trouble themselves about its disposal. In conclusion, ho felt their best thanks were due to Mr Loring, of the Railway Department, who had taken every possible step to protect their interests. In these days when everyone seemed ready to throw a stone at the railways, it was pleasant for him to say that under no management could they have secured better results. Of course, it went without saying that the assistance rendered by Mr Bloxham was invaluable, and he hoped to be associated with him for many years to come. For their own unswerving loyalty he felt deeply grateful. From first to lust they had stuck loyally and unreservedly to his firm, and he felt that the success they had met with was in a great measure due to this. . , The Chairman having asked if any of those present desired to speak, Mr J. J. Harris said that from his own exexperience he was decidedly of opinion that it would be greatly to their own advantage to follow Mr Lories suggestions regarding packing. No one had opposed the method Mr Lorie recommended more than himself ; but when after making some loss by following the old system, he sent precisely the same kind of frnit packed as Mr Lorie suggested, and obtained the top market price for it, he was satisfied it would pay well, although a little more troublesome and expensive. Mr Birch said he had proved the loss which frait underwent in weight by packing some pears, weighing them, and letting them stand • few days, when on re- weighing them befound (hey had lost from 21b to 31b each case. '

The question of an uniform label for the fruit was then discussed, and Mr Lorie having shown a sample of one he proposed, it was unanimously decided to adopt it. The question of an uniform weight for tho viriius kinds of oases was also discussed ; and Messrs Johu Tatnblyn, A. Birch, and M. E. Manuel were appointed a committee to confer with Mr Lorie next day and decide the question.

Mr Lorie having mentioned that there was a general opinion that if the agreement with his firm for a sole agency was continued, growers should have a right to sell anywhere south of Milton.

The Chairman asked what was the opinion of their firm concerning it ? Mr Lorie replied that they would innch prefer it, provided the same penalty of £100 was incurred should any growers' fruit be resold in Dunedin.

The Chairman said as there was no further .business, it only remained for the meeting to decide whether they wished Messrs Lorie and Co. to continue as their sole agents. Personally, he was of opinion that the firm had served thorn exceedingly wpII, and he was aure they retaiued the confidence of every erower in the district. Referring to the question raised by Mr Lorie concerning the firm's method of book-keeping, he thought there could be no *wo opinions about it. The system Messrs Lorie and Co. adopted, as shown by their weakly accounts, and by the books Mr Lorie had been good enough to bring up for their iuspect.ion, enabled them to trace every case of fruit sent them, and he felt this was eminently satisfactory, far more so than the system the fruitgrowers had previously been accustomed to.

Mr M. Campbell moved a vote of confidence in Mr Lorie for the successful way he had con ducted the sale of fruit for the Association in Dunedin.

The motion was seconded by the Chairman and carried unanimously.

It was subsequently agreed to enter into an arrangement with Mr Lorie to act as agent for the Association, upon somewhat similar terms to the previous arrangement, there, however, being a stipulation that fruitgrowers should be permitted to sell fruit on their own account south of Milton, provided that none of that which they sold was allowed to find its way into the Dunedin market.

Mr Lorie said he thought the Association should recognise the fact that the railways had been admirably managed so far as the fruit business was concerned. It had only been necessary for them to give a hint of what was wanted, and the matter had been attended to at once. If the railways had been a private concern they could not have been managed better. He did not think the meeting should close without passing a vole of thanks to Mr Loring, of the Railvny department. A vote of thanks having been accorded to Mr Loring, the meeting terminated. [Communicated.]