N.Z. FRUIT-GROWERS ASSOCIATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19035, 12 June 1924, Page 5

N.Z. FRUIT-GROWERS ASSOCIATION

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 11. The annual conference of the NeH Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Association opened to-day. Air. A. Af. Robertson, of Hawke’s Bay, presiding. The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. Air. Nosworthy, congratulated the delegates on th<* improved out* look for the industry. Last season, the crops were better in quantity and quality, which fact pointed to greater energy on the part of growers. The export market showed considerable development. The cases exported totalled 241,253, as compared with 100,000 the previous He was hopeful that shipping facilities to South America and Great Britain would bo improved. He proposed to keep his promise to brin£ down a Fruit Control Bill as early ai possible, provided Cabinet approved of it. The Bill would provide for national control of export and giv< local option as regards marketing, He had in view not only the reorganisation of the meat, dairy and fruit industries, but also all minor industries. Afr. C Brash moved as follows at tho conference of fruitgrowers: fl • "That this conference urges tho need of a Fruit Control Act, and instructs the board to set up a oommitteo to work in this behalf; That the Act be divided into twosections, the first of these being Do-minion-wide, dealing with fruit for export, the second being provincial in its operations, to be applied at the request of a majority of pro< vincial growers in the province. He said he was strongly in favooiti of control. Producers had beriW difficult to organise and hold to« getlicr. That had been the downfall of many co-opera;.ivc companies.' The idea of contra] was that im-’ mediately a move was made Ih% whole of the producers were behin<V it. It wotild be urged that board would become autocratic an'l go against the wishes of the produce ers. No board could remain in officW and go against the popular wish of the producers. He did not think if possible for all producers to pr>< 1 their’fruit, but it might be possibly for pools within provinces. Different districts had their fruit roidy ad different times. The Bid which, suggested provided for Gevernmenti representatives. He thought that? was reasonable. The control bo»r<t would have power to make a ghipw ping contract, a power which noj board had to-day. Marino insurance soon would'become a big thing, and? if this w r as put into the hands of, tho body they might bo able tot make an arrangement to the general; benefit. The Department would be-| come a board which would be able to? syeak for the whole of the growers* of the Dominion. The board have power to make a levy to psvj* expences. As to local control, that Bill gave to each province tho right! to a local control board if it yotedl it in. Eventually it was resolved that< the Conference should urge oa Parliament the necessity for an Ex« port Fruit Control Act on the liaci( which had been set out, but with a provision for fixing maximum levy, and making it possible to market fruit from any district on a pooling system unless it was the expressed, desire of that province, as by a poll of exporters. Mr. H. S. Izard (Auckland) moved’ "That this conference approves of the terms of tho Fruit Control Bill in so far as it relates to local control, but subject to fruit. being di« vided into throe classes—pip* stone, and citrus and separ« ate voting papers being issued to the growers of each class.” This had not beer, voted in when the Con* feronec rose for the day. The following remits were referred to a committee. Subsequently a deputation is to wait on the Minister concerning them:— That owing to the loss sustained annually by fruit-growers in the transport of fruit through the present incomplete system of ventilation of fruit :ruck», the Minister for Railways be asked to further consider the introduction of modern trucks for fruit traffic. (Tevlot). That a better fruit truck no supplied at Cromwell for the carrying of next season’s fruit. (Upper Clutha). That the railway authorites be asked to provide a greater number of fruit wagons for Auckland province. (Henderson). That the Railway Department be asked to keep up the supply of fruit wagons in accordance with incrcasod production of fruit. (Hawke’s Bay). Without discussion, tho following remit from Huapai was agreed to:—That in view of the recent Order-in-Council stating that the Railway Department may sell by auction any fruit left at a station longer than six hours, the Government be approached with a view to having this Order, as applied to fruit, rescinded, on the ground that ns it is not always possible for a consignee to remove fruit within the time stated undue hardship and loss ere apt to result. i It was decided to recommend that in the list of varieties of apples for export to South America, Cleopatra and Newtown Pippin should be included.