FRUITGROWING.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17420, 3 April 1922, Page 3

FRUITGROWING.

ANNUAL MEETING OF CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the. Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association was held on, Saturday night, Mr I'. W. Cono presiding over a good attendance. / Annual Report. The twenty-fourth annual jeport stated that the Association was in a good financial position although the expenmture, owing to special cause*, had Hen heavy. The ba.anco ♦i ™-Kt was £8 15s 6d; outstanding eublupervton of Mr W. K. Dallas, Gove»ment Oichard Instructor; entrance tees were pa id by 66 members; 15 interesting lectures were given; Mr H. Airman deserved great credit tor Ids work as secretary of the clauses-; the balance-sheet of the classes showe-i a credit of £2 03 9d. Much time- had been given to trie question which haa beconu, an «slablisbed iact since 1 obruary Ist of the present year... Two successful Held daja had been held at the- Government experimental orchard, and the Department hwl been requested to carry on the control of .diseases by spraying on the most economic, commercial, and effective lines. A numb<:r of apiielmus mali the parasite of tho wholly aphis, had been received from Dr. Tilly aid, and the Cawthron Institute, and had been liberated in orchards near Chnstahurcb. The chairman, in moving the adoption o* the report and balance-sheet, said that the Association had the largest membership of any lruitgrowers' association in I\ew Zealand .{applause; and that being bo, they had to be reckoned with. The case question had been brought to a conclusion in Chnstchurch, but was still unsettled in respect of Invercargill, but they expected Invercargill to com* in anv day. Referring to aphelinus mail, he said that the first oonsigument of' 160 was released in Mr ii. A. Stead's, orchard, but nothing definite' had been, noted about tiiem; the second lot' was'- liDe'rate'd in "his {Mr Cone's) "orchard, and- they were doing all right and could be eeen at work on the woolly aphis; the third and last consignment this season camo to hand a fow days ago, and had been liberated at Harewocd. Kegardmg the experimental orchard, he trie Government officials complained that fruitgrowers did not uttond often enough, and should not wait for the annual gathering in order to visit the orchard; there was something to be learned all tho year round, lho cleanliness of the orchard was a credit to the Department. Referring to the carriage of case snooks on the railway, he aaid that there had been a little trouble lately. The conditions upon which the ehooks were carried fi'Oß for distances over 100 miles was that they would forward the cases by rail; this had not always been done in the past. Fruitgrowers who did not intend to rail caacs were advised to pay for the equivalent number of snooks, otherwise they would be charged for the whole number. Mr E. Yates seconded the motion. Mr J. Longton referred to tho iact that the Association had expended more in connexion with the payment for cases campaign tiian, had been subscribed by members; no thought that lis charging for casea was putting aiaOGO into the pocket 3 of the Canterbury fruitgrowers there should not be the discrepancy between the amount subscribed and tho amount expended. The secretary {Mr H. E. Morgan) replying to Mr Longton, eaid that all who had promised subscriptions had paid them. The report and balance-Bheet were adopted. Officers Elected. Messrs F. W. Cone and F. Sisson were nominated for the office of president. Mr Sisson desired to withdraw,, but made the request too late. On a ballot Mr Cone was elected.

Mr Cono, in returning thanks, said that he hoped to inauguiato a campaign to induce people to eat more fruit. Most people looked upon fruit as a luxury; they wunted to teach them that fruit was o necessity. If peoplo bought fruit by the caso instead of by the pound, they woual eat more. Messrs J. J?. I'apiey and K. A. Stead were elected vice-presidents.

A rather warm discussion arose whea Mr J. Longton was nominated for a seai on the committee, objection being taken that Mr Longton was not a bona fide fruitgrower.

Mr Longton. stated that he was a fruitgrower and was growing fruit at Lincoln, at Sumner, and at another place. It wa3 stated that the rules of the Association did not provide that only members who were bona fide fmitgrowera were eligible for eeats on the committee.

Mr F. bisßoa and other old members of tho Association, sard that the rules originally provided _ that only bona lido fruitgrowers were eligible for seats on the committee. The subject dropped, Mr Longton's nomination being accepted. The following were elected to the committee:—Messrs F. tiieson, E. Freeman, J. <J. Booth, «tnd L. T. K. Allison. These with Messrs C E. Pope and P. King constitute the committee for the ensuing year. Mr H. E. Morgan was re-elected sscretary- . treasurer.

Federation Conference. Tie secretary of the Jfew Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation wrote that the annual conference, would be held in Wellington on June 15th; remits to be forwarded before ilay 3rd; provincial conferences to be held between May 20th and Juno 10th. It win decided to forward remits recommending 8 x 9 x 20 and 6 x G s. 28 as tho sizes oi standard cases, and that all cases be provided with lids. l'ne following uetegatcs were appointed to the provincial conference:—Messrs F. \V. Cone, F. Siason, J. F. 'i'apley, E. A. Stead, ±l. E. Morgan, uad if. Moctrurn. Classes for Fruitgrowers. Mr H Firman submitted a verbal report on. tho classes for fruitgrowers held la3t winter, and stated that tuey had proved very valuable, ana. xiad been muca appreciate!. Xho association was to be congratulated on tho success of the classes, and it was hoped that taey would be continued thi3 winter.' Orcaard Instructor. The chairman referred to the appointment of Mr L. .faynter as orchard instructor in O'luistchureh, and said that it was understood that Sir Dallas would remain in the district; Tlie members of the Association, had got on wol! with Mr Dallas. On the motion of Mr Longton, and by acclamation, it was decided to record on the minute 3 the Association's thanks' to Mr Ddhis for tho attention ho had given to the Association.

Mr Dallas, in acknowledging tho veto of thanks, said that lie had endeavoured us far as possible to further the interests of Canterbury fruitgrowers. It was intended to continue tho classo for fruitgrowers this oeaßon.