ORCHARD INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1846, 4 September 1913, Page 11

ORCHARD INDUSTRY.

THE CONFERENCE. FEDERATION UP FOR REVIEW. Tho annual conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation dealt with tho question of federation at its sitting yesterday. Mr. Gadd (Otago Central) moved that every endeavour should bp mado to bring about the federation of all fruitgrowers' associations in tho Dominion. ' Mr. 11. P. Hudson (Nelson) said that tlio best course for the growers was to get a capablo secretary to look after the affairs of federated growers. Federation was the only machinery by which they could look after thoir interests. Tlio federation'existed nowonlv in name. Mr. S. Jlartoll (Hawked Bay): It is not supported. Mr. J. R. 11. Archer (Canterbury) Hero's a copy of the rules of the federation. Tho federation is a fact; it exists. Mr. Martell: This is a motion to bring about a federation of all associations. Wo now have a federation of some associations. . Mr. J. Lans»ton (Canterbury) said that his association objected to go on I with the federation unless tho other associations agreed to pay. tQieir subscriptions towards it. How Provido Federation Funds? It was to withdraw the motion, and deal with tho following remit from the Nelson Association:—"That in order to provido funds for tho working of tho federation in tho interests of our industry, the Government bo called upon to collect a levy per caso 011 all apples, pears, and other fruits commercially handled in tho Dominion, same to bo handed back in full to tho federation, less cost of collection." The following Moutere remits were considered at tho same timo:—"That 110 further time should bo lost in formulating somo definite scheme for supplying funds for the working of the Dominion Fruitgrowers' Federation"; "That the Government should he asked to introduco a< system of compulsory taxation per caso 011 all fruit, the funds thereby acquired to bo devoted to the financing of the Donrnion Federation 011 the samo principle as has been such a prouounced success amongst tho tea growers of Ceylon." Mr. U. P. Hudson, the mover of tho newly-introduced proposals, said that they must havo funds with which to carry on' the federation. A voluntary system of contributions would not work; tlio system must ho compulsory. Somo people contended that tlio levy should ho per acre; 110 thought that the caso tax was the fairer. A voice: No. Mr. Hudson: Howovor, it must bo compulsory that whoever gets the advantage of that federation should pay. Mr. Archer seconded the mot'on. Avorage Levy Proposed and Carried. Mr. S. Martell (Hawko's Bay) moved as an amendment: "That in. view of tho steady increase in fruit production and the largo areas still being planted, in the opinion of this meeting tho timo has arrived when a levy of bd. tier acrc or part aero per annum should be mado on all orchards in Now Zealand over four years old, such moneys to bo collected by tho Government and handed over to tho executivo of tho Now Zealand Fruit-growers' Federation, to be used by tliom for the opening-up of new markots at Homo and abroad, and for tho furtherance of the general interests of orchards; and that tho district . representation 011 tho executivo of tho federation should bo in proportion to tho acreage taxed." The inovor remarked that Nelson seemed to think that by. passing such a resolution, ns that put forward by tho Nolson Association they would bring about a remedy. Why, it would mean two years of agitation to get the effect given in that resolution, and that agitation would need funds. Tho caso tax would mean that the man who already had a largo turn-out would have to pay a largo amount of the money for tho benefit of tho man who had 110 turn-out at all. Mr. Hudson: And got a proportionate benefit. ' Mr. Martell: Not at all. Mr. Martell contended that a caso tax would bo inequitable for soveral reasons. For ono thing it would penaliso tlio good man as against tho careless man. It was a tax on tho industrious man as against the man who had 110 industry and 110 foresight. Tlio acrcago was tho utinost_ limit to which tho Hawko's Day Association was prepared to go. Sir. J. Longton (Canterbury) seconded the amendment. Ho dismissed tlio case tax as impracticable. .Mr. T. W. Kirk (head of the Fruit Division of tho Stato. Department of Agriculture) said that thero wero 13,720 acres under fruit on this year's planting. Mr. Arclior, -tlio secretary, objected to tho assertions that the federation existed only in name, Thoy wero ablo to hold tho conference, havo a littlo enjoyment. and go away with tho federation showing a cash balance. All bodies had a beginning, most of them small beginnings; Tlio orchardists had exhibited supremo indifference, and tlio federation had been carried along by a fow enthusiasts. On certain conditions he was prepared to carry 011 tho secretaryship for another year. "Nolson has been scoldcd for not contributing to tho funds of the federation," remarked Mr. A. M'Kie, who went 011 to "challenge anyone" to show him what tho federation had done outside of tho present conference. As to the proposed levy, the basic principle should bo to niako those pay who wero best ablo' to do so. 1 In Nelson there wero (say) 2000 acros in now trees, which would not bo in bearing for somo time. He favoured ft lovy of about 1 halfpenny per caso, which would bring In about £1500 per year. Tho acreage -ax would bo grossly unfair to those ivho were struggling to build up somc;hing for tho future, unless an age-of-irchard provision wero mado. Mr. Frederick Sisson (Turakina) do:lared that an attempt was being made )y capitalists to get now markets, and ncreaso tlie value of their land at the sxpense of Labour. i Tho proposed caso tax and acreage <ax were opposed by Mr. J,. B. Tonar Waitoniata). Those who did not oxiort apples would not , benefit. Ho bought that they should stick together, ind go along for a year or' two on tho [ivo-and-take principle, and in tho neantime a solution of tho federation iroblem might occur to somebody. .Mr. Roberts (Hawko's Bay) supported' ho acreage-tax idea. Mr. Moor said that ho was prepared 0 support tho amendment, which enmo roiu his association (Hawko's Bay), but 10 added that his private feelings 111lincd to tlio view oxpressed by Mr. 'ouar. Tho chairman of tho conference, Mr. ~ Valtor Wray (Canterbury), held that he conference was good in everyway, lo thought the acreago tax ,-ould bo more simple than the caso ax; but he was not in favour of forcng any tax down a man's throat; it iust lie optional with the associations r the fruit-growers in particular disricts. Mr. Hudson: It has been suggested lint a tax per case would, press hard pon the man with the large output, ut I presume that the man with the irge number of cases would make a roportionately' larger profit than the lan with a small output. At this stage the Nelson resolution r as withdrawn. When Hawko's Bay's proposal ras ut lo the mooting it was carried, 'ourtoen voted for it, and there was no isseutientj JLE,