IN AND ABOUT THE FARM.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 141, 30 August 1912, Page 4

IN AND ABOUT THE FARM.

FRUIT-GROWING.

CONFERENCE WORK

[Continued.]

FRUIT-WRAPPING AND PACKING. On behalf of the Nelson Association Mr Moffatt moved: " That it is desirable to represent to the Minister for Customs that the New Zealand Customs regulations be brought into line with the new Australian Customs bylaws, as regards fruit wrapping paper. (The Australian by-law No. 197 provides that fruit-wrap-ping paper, in substance not exceeding 9 inches per 500 of 20x30 imported cut to size, as ordinarily used for fruit-wrapping purposes, be delivered free of duty, provided the importer declares on the face of the entry that the paper is to be bona fide used for fruitgrowing purposes.) And, also, that similar regulations be embodied with regard to the importation of wood-wool used for packing." At the present time, said Mr Moffatt, there was no machine in New Zealand for manufacturing wood-wool, and if it was admitted duty free, it would injure no one. Mr White (Hawke's Bay) seconded the motion.

Mr Hudson (Nelson) thought that in this instance they had a very strong case to put before the Government.

Mr Guv (Nelson) stated he had written to the Government in regard to wood-wool and had been informed that there was no duty on this article.

Mr Tonar(Waitemata)remarked that he had made inquiries some time ago and had found that a machine for manufacturing it could be erected for about £IOO. Mr Sissoh (Canterbury) said that he had purchased wood-wool off a firm in Christch'urch who had a machine for manufacturing it. Mr Boucher, Government Pomologist, said the Agricultural Department had made inquiries for wrapping paper throughout the Dominion, but they had failed to find a satisfactory paper.

Mr Kirk stated that the duty on. British wrapping paper was 5s 6d per cwt., and on foreign paper 7s 6d.

The motion was carried. MUNICIPAL MARKETS AND AUCTIONEERS.

Mr Sisson (Canterbury) moved: " That the Government be urged to pass a Bill providing that wherever a municipal market is erected, the auctioneers selling fruit, fish, and vegetables, shall be compelled to sell in such market."

The mover urged that if a municipal market was established and the auctioneers did not sell there, the market would simply be a " white elephant." Mr Wray (Canterbury) seconded. He thought that it would be an advantage if municipalities started markets, and the Government compelled auctioneers to sell there.

Mr j. C. Neill (Horowhenua) moved an amendment the words " and that such auctioneers be prohibited from dealing (trading) in such commodities." The whole trouble with the present auctioneering system was that the auctioneers themselves had the' power to " deal" in fruit to the detriment of the grower. A big lot of stuff might be put upin the morning, say, and might be bought in by a " dummy " buyer. If this were done, the grower would get the price given by this " dummy," but, in the afternoon, the apples might be resold to supply country orders at a big advance.. The auctioneer, and not. the grower, got the advantage of this dealing. He cast no actual reflection on the auctioneers, but merely pointed out what was possible. Mr Tonar spoke strongly against the establishment of municipal markets. Wherever they had been entered on there had been a loss.

Mr Moffatt thought that municipal markets would be a good thing. He could not support the amendment. It was, of course, possible for the auctioneers to buy in at low prices, and sell at an advance, but they had to put up with this. He had not seen it proved that the auctioneers were dishonest, and he did not think that they were. Mr Kirk remarked that he held no brief for the auctioneers, but, at a recent conference, he had told them, on behalf of the Wellington auctioneers, that they would be only too pleased that any grower should go in at any time and see the whole of his papers in connection with the sales of his fruit. The auctioneers had recently repeated this offer, and had added they would give-the grower any facility, to trace his fruit.. If auctioneers were compelled to sell in a municipal market, would .not the cooperative associations now in existence have to give up their work and sell in the municipal markets? The motion was carried. TESTING SPRAYING MIXTURES. Discussing a suggestion from Canterbury in reference to the testing of different remedies for insect pests at Government experiment stations, so that growers would be spared the expense of buying useless preparations, Mr Boucher, Government Pomologist,

remarked that for years past the Government had been testing every spraying preparation they could lay hands on. The results of any satisfactory tests were forwarded to district instructors, and, on application, growers could get any information that they required. It decided to thank the Department for the work it had done in this connection. REGULATIONS RE IMPORTS.

Mr Tonar (Waitemata) moved : That the regulations now existing with regard to imported fruitshould not be in any way relaxed. The motion was seconded by Mr Wray, and carried. MARKETING FRUIT.

The marketing of fruit in New Zealand was brought up by Mr Tonar. He stated that to bring about a better state of affairs throughout the Dominion a more uniform system of grading and marking~should be exercised.

It was decided that the matter had been practically embodied in previous resolutions. ORCHARDS PESTS ACT. Some discussion took place with regard to two remits —one from the Central Ota go Fruitgrowers' Association, • and the other from the Lower Moutere Fruitgrowers' Association. These were to the effect that the Government be asked to enforce the provisions of the Orchards and Gardens Pest Act. Mr Fossella moved as an amendment:—" That the Government be again asked to proclaim fruit areas where asked for, and that all members of local fruitgrowers' associations be given power to act as inspectors, on the same principal as that in vogue in the Acclimatisation Society." It was almost impossible for orchard inspectors to look over all the small orchards. Mr Stevens remarked that he did not believe in members of the association acting as inspectors. Mr Henderson (Nelson district) approved the idea. • Mr Kirk association to give the Department every assistance in the matter of keeping orchards clean. He stated thai that the Department at present had not a large staff of inspectors, but he thought that they had done very well, considering the large areas which inspectors had to traverse. If members of the association knew of a " dirty" orchard, and they informed the Department in a confidential note, the latter would see that the inspectors had paid a visit to the orchard complained of. The chairman stated that the " dirty" orchards in Hawke's Bay were innumerable. It was not the large orchards, however, but the " back-yard " orchards. Mr Poynter, Hawke's Bay, said that the existence of " dirtv " orchards in his district was not the fault of the inspector. There were numbers of " back-yard " orchards which the inspector did not know of.

The principal embodied in the motion that the Govern-

ment be asked to proclaim fruit areas when applied for —was carried by ten votes to four.

DUTY ON NURSERY STOCK,

Mr J. C. Neill (Horowhenua) moved that the conference protest against any attempt to place a duty on imported nursery stock. It had recently been mentioned in Parliament, stated the mover, that it might be advisable to put a duty on imported fruit trees. The Minister for Customs had stated that, when the new tariff was being framed, the matter would be taken into consideration.

A number of telegrams protesting against the duty were received and read. The result was seconded and carried unanimously. MrR. G. Moffatt (Nelson) then moved, upon amendment, as follows :- That the New Zealand Nurserymen's Association be replied to that this conference cannot support their contentions." This was carried. WOOLLY APHIS. It was decided to approach the Government to grant a substantial bonus for the discovery of an efficient remedy for woolly aphis. FRUIT CASES. Five remits dealing with the charges on fruit cases were taken together. It was moved by Mr Wray that fruit cases be charged for at the rate of 6d for full cases, and 4d for half cases. Mr Stevens seconded the motion. In view* of the fact that the Railway Department charged for the carriage of cases, Mr Illingworth (Canterbury) thought that it was only right that growers should charge for them. The speaker could see no reason why fruitgrowers should give the cases away. Mr Edilson (retailer, Wellington), stated that he would rather pay 2s 6d more per case for fruit if it were nicely packed in new cases. Experience had shown him that ftuit was not nearly so attractive when put up in secondcases. PLANTING BY PRISON LABOUR. Mr Moffatt moved and Mr Sisson seconded : " That this conference affirms the decision of the previous conference to enter a strong protest against the Government undertaking to plant gum lands in the north with fruit trees by prison labour, and at the expense of the country, and asks it to turn its attention to the planting of forest trees for case timber." The motion was carried.