FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 783, 5 April 1910, Page 8

FRUIT INDUSTRY.

TEE HIGHEST BID. I SPRAYING FOR CODLIN MOTH. (By Telegraph.—Scccial Corresnondent.l Ghristchurch, April 4. At a meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association on Saturday night a discussion took place on the resolution passed at. the previous meeting to the effect that auctioneers should be compelled to taketho highest "bid provided | cash was tendered. The chairman re-, ported that Mr. G. Witty, M.P., had informed him thai the drafting of an amending Bill would not cost very much, and that lie himself would be pleased .to < father the Bill in the House. was resolved to get a Bill drafted in readiness for next session, and to communicate with growers in other districts and with kindred associations, asking for theirsupport. One of the members said that the proposal was one step towards getting people to buy cheap fruit, and to become accustomed to eating fruit. Numbers of people would purchase fruit regularly for use if they could, get it cheaply, the proposed amendment of the Auctioneers Act would help them in that direction, because if the amendment was carried private, buyers could purchase fruit at auction. The Hawke's Bay Association wrote taking exception to the reported remarks of the' Christchurch magistrate as to the advisability of the Agricultural- Department sprajing trees for codlin moth at. the; expense of owners. Those present protested strongly against the suggestion, but it was considered that nothing more would come of it.' The hope was expressed that the Department would be more energetic and show people that they absolutely must spray their • trees in order not to be a nuisance to theirneighbours. One prominent fruitgrower said that orchardists living adjacent to those who neglected to spray had to treat their trees several times in the year, but if everybody sprayed, then after v a coupe of years ontf spraying per season would bo enough, and that would save a great deal of expense. Another member said he had to spray four tim«s with lead this year, and it was heart-breaking for a grower to find people round about him doing nothing. It was suggested that, as in the case of laying poison for rabbits, if a t - grower gave a.' neighbouring grower notice that he was going to spray, then the neighbouring grower should be compelled to spray also. This suggestion found favour, with' the meeting.' , . t