FRUIT-GROWING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1525, 22 August 1912, Page 8

FRUIT-GROWING.

THE DOMINION ORCHARDISTS. CONFERENCE WORK. The annual conference of the' New Zealand Fruit-growers' Federation was continned in tho Lecture Room of the Dominion Museum yesterday morning, Mr. A. Mooro presiding. Fruit-wrapping and Packing. On behalf of the Nelson Association Jlr. Moffatt moved: "That it is desirable to represent to the Minister for Customs that tho New Zealand Customs regulations bo brought into lino with tho new Australian Customs by-laws, as regards fruitwrapping paper. (The Australian by law No. 197 provides that fruit-wrapping paper, in substance not exceeding 9 inches per 500 of 20 x 30 imported cut to size, as ordinarily used for fruit-wrapping purposes, bo delivered free of duty, provided the importer declares on the face of the entry that the paper is to be bona fido used for fruit-wrapping purposes.) And, also, that similar regulations be embodied with Tegard to the importation of wood-wool used for fruit packing." At the present time, 6aid Mr. Moffatt, there was no machino in New Zealand for manufacturing wood-wool, and if it was admitted duty free, it would injure no one. Mr. 'White (Hawko'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. Guy. (Nelson) stated he had written to the Government in regard to woodwool and had been informed that there wns.no duty on this article.' Mr. Tonar (Waitemata) remarked that he had made inquiries some timo ago and had found that a machine for manufacturing it could be erected for about .£IOO. Mr. Sisson (Canterbury) said that he had purchased wood-wool off a firm of sawmillers in Christehurch who had a mnohino for manufacturing it. Mr. .Boucher, Government Pomologisf, said tho 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 ss. Gd. per cwt„ and on foreign paper 7s. Gd. The motion was carried. Municipal Markets and Auctioneers. Mr. Sisson (Canterbury) moved: ""That the Government bo urged to pass a Bill providing that wherever a municipal mare V 3 erected, the auctioneers selling ™iii i i> ft"? 1 ' vegetables, shall be commu to sell ln mch market." The mover urged that if a municipal market was established and tho auctioneers did not sell there, the market would simply ho a "white elephant." 'ffcntJ y ray (Canterbury) seconded. He though, that it would bo an advantage ii municipalities started municipal markets, and the Government compelled auctioneers to sell there. Mr. J. C. Neill (Horowhemia) moved an amendment to add the words "and that such auctioneers be prohibited from dealing (trading) in such commodities." ine whole trouble with tho 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 up in' tho morning, say, and might bo bought in by a dummy" buyer. If this were done, the grower would get the price given by this dummy," but, in the afternoon, tho apples might be resold to supply country ordors at a big advance. The auctioneer, and not the grower, got the advantage of this dealing. Ho 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 tho amendment. It was, of coarse, possible for tho auctioneers to buy in at low prices,- and sell at an advance, but they had to put up with this. Ho had not seen it proved that the auctioneers were dishonest, and ho 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 thev .would be only too pleased that any grower should go in at any time and see tho 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 tho co-opera-tive 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 tho- 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 l'omologist, remarked that for years past tho Government had been testing every spraying preparation they could lay hands on. The resnlts of any satisfactory tests were forwarded to district instructors, and, on application, growers could get any information that they required. It was decided to thank tho Department for the work it had done in this connection. AFTERNOON SITTING. 1 REGULATIONS BE IMPORTS. On the conference resuming in the afternoon, Mr. Tonar (Waitemata) moved:'—"That the regulations now existing with regard to imported fruit should not in any way be relaxed." The motion was soconded by Mr. Wray, and carried. Marketing Fruit. Tho 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 Otago Fruitgrowers' Association, and the other from the Lower Moutoro Fruitgrowers' Association. Theso were to the effect that the Government be aslcqd to enforce tho provisions of the Orchards and Gardens Test Act. Mr. Fosella moved as an amendment:— "That the Government bo 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, principle as that in voguo in tho Acclimatisation Society." It was almost impossible for orchard inspectors to look over all tho small orchards. Mr. Stevens remarked that ho did not boliovo in mombers of the association acting as inspectors. Mr. Henderson (Nelson district) approved tho idea. Mr. Kirk asked the association to give tho Department every assistance in the matter of keeping orchards clean. Ho stated that the Department at present had not a large staff of inspectors, but ho thought that they had dono very well, considering tho largo areas which inspectors had to traverse. If members of the association know of a "dirty" orchard, and they informed tho Department in n confidential noto, tho latter would wo that tho inspectors paid a visit to tho orchard complained of. 'Die chairimm stated that the "dirty" orchards in ITiiwkc's Kay were innumerable. It was not. tho large orchards, however, but the "back-yard" orchards, Mr. Pointer, Hawko's Bay, said thai

the existence of "dirty" orchards in his district was not the fault of the inspector. There wore, numbers of "Tiackynrd" orchards which the inspector did 'not know of. The. principle embodied in the motion— that tho Government be asked to proclaim fruit ureas when applied for—was carried by ten votes to four. Duty on Nursery Stock. Mr. .1. C. Ncill (Horowhonun) 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 he advisable to put a duty on imported fruit trees. Tho 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 remit was seconded and carried unanimously. Mr. E. G. Moffatt (Nelson) then moved, npon 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 tho 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 wore taken together. It w.as moved by Mr. Wray that fruit cases be charged for at tho rate cf 6d. for full .cases, and id. for half-cases. Mr. Stevens seconded the motion. In view of the fact that tho Kail way , Department charged for the carriage of cases, Mr. Illingwortli (Canterbury) , thought that it was only right that grow- ' ers should charge for them. The ! speaker could seo' no reason why '. fruitgrowers should give the cases away. Mr. Edilson (retailer, Wellington), stated that he would rather pay 2s. Cd. more ' per cas9 for fruit if it were nicely packed ' i'n new cases. Experience had shown him that fruit was not nearly so attractive when put up in second-hand cases. Planting by Prison Labour. Mr. Moffatt moved and Mr. Sisson seconded : "That this conference affirms the decision of tho previous conference to enter a strong protest against tho Government undertaking to plant gum lands in the north with fruit trees by prison labour, and at the expense of the coimirv, and asks it to turn its attention to tlio planting of forest trees for case timber.'' The motion was carried. White Pine Forests. Mr. E. Gubb (Port Albert) moved: "That tho Government be asked to set asido all white pine forests left on Crown lands." -^ It was pointed out by Mr. Moffatt that this matter had been dealt with at a previous conference. The motion was seconded by Mr. Tonal (Waitemata) and carried. Other Business. Messrs. J. Tonar (Waitemata), R. P. Hudson (Nelson district), W. Purvis (llawke's Bay), and F. Sisson (Canterbury) wore appointed a deputation t(. wait on the Prime Minister to-day wit), reference to matters arising out of tin conference. Mr. T. M. O'Neill, of Wellington, attended the conference and pointed out the advantages of opening up trade in New Zealand fruits with tlio Argentine. Tin speaker was thanked for the information. A letter was received from the secretory of the Manaivahi and West Coast A. aju. P. Association, suggesting that tlio next coufprecico should be held at Falmerctcm .North in connection with tho wintei show. After some discussion it was finally 1 decided to hold the next conference ii. ' Wellington, the meeting commencing in the first week in September. It was resolved that the executive ol 1 the Canterbury Association bo the executivo of tho federation for tho ensuing year. Tho question of sending a delegate to the Australian Conference was left to the executive to consider. This concluded tho business.