THE FRUIT INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2534, 7 August 1915, Page 12

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY

RAILWAY MATTERS A NATIONAL SHOW FOR 1916 The Conference ot the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation . v;as continued yesterday in the Esperanto Hall, Mr. M. N. Robertson presiding. There was ;i good deal of discussion on tlio question of freights, and it was contended that the.agricultural industry was placed on a. uiucli better position thou the fruit industry. The average rate on agricultural product. l ! was stated at 225. Gil. per ton per '100 miles, while for jams and preserves it was GGs. pw ton. It was resolved: "That the liaihvny Department should Ijo urged to give an equilablo rate for spraying materials and jams and preserves, and that they should bo put on tho same footing as (J airy and farm products." Another railway matter was considered in the remit regarding damago to fruit through careless handling, and a delegate said that the secret was that the growers failed to insure their- products. If they l signed tho declaration at tho bottom of, the freight bills they itoVild havo a claim': on the Department. . Sir. F. S. Pope suggested that tihe fruitgrowers should report on any cases ot' negligence in the handling of tho products. That would soon have an effect on tho service. Mr. Martell said that they wanted a system of goods inspecting. lie moved an amendment, to that effect. A motion was carried urging the appointment of goods' detectives, and tho further remit carried brought under the notico of the Railway Department the inefficient supply of properly constructed fruit, trucks. Other railway Temits carried asked for a -reasonable railapj rato on all New Zealand-grown fruit-case timber, and through booking by rail and sea for tho products of the industry. A scheme was submittod in connection with the matter on the basis of the rate for agricultural products. It was decided to place the scheme before the Department. A National Apple Show. Mi - .: E. P. Hudson, M.P., took charge of the remit proposing "the holding of a National Applo Show. 'The ordinary slioivs of tho Palmerston North Mid outside places were not, he said, of the value that a show held in the centres would be, and he felt that a fruit show would be interesting to the public and instructive to tho fruitgrowers. Mr. Green said that they wore too modest in their shows in tho past. They had to "boost" tho industry, and lie thought they could do be6t by combining with the winter shows throughout tho Dominion, and there make their big displays. Mr. Pope thought that the only way they could go about n National Show would bo by liaving a guarantee fund. They would have to have the shows in one of the four centres. Mr. T. W. Kirk said that if the 6how was held in Wellington ho oould get some big prizes from the merchants. It was resolved: "That an annual National Fruit Show be held, the first to take place in Wellington in May, 1916, and that a representative committee be set up to carry tho same to finality." A guarantee fund was opened, and guarantees were received in the room for about It was decided that each association should be asked to guarantee something. The conference also advocated treeplanting for the production of case timber. They also inspected a tray for shipping cases, invented 'by Captain Chudleigh-. of the Shaw-Savill Co., and expressed appreciation at it. The executive announced that they 3ia<l made arrangements with the shipping companies, who had agreed to use trays when shipping cases aboard. The Constitution Committee brought down a list of amendments to the constitution of the federation, and these were discussed at length. With regard to the allegation that a lino of trees had been passed for import with root-knot disease, Mr. ICirlc said that it had to be admitted that Such had been the case. ' The inspector would be called on for an explanation. A vote of ..thanks ivas passed to Mr. Pope, Mr. Kirk, and other members of tho Agricultural Department for their assistance. A resolution was passed instructing the executive to register the constitution, and to make arrangements for the election of directors at the hext annual meeting. It was aljo resolved (hat within thirty days after the constitution had been circulated all petitions agreeing to tho Is. per acre tax should bo returned to the secretary. Tho following provisional directors for tho federation were appointed:—Messrs. Mlport, Anderson, Davidson, Hereus, Longton, Martell, and Neill. The members will also push forward tho national show proposal. • DEPUTATION TO THE PRIME MINISTER. 'A SYMPATHETIC EEPLT. In the morning a deputation from the conference waited upon (he Prime Minister (the Right Hon. AV. IT. Massey). The members were introduced by Mr. E. I'. Hudson, M.P., who said that ill addition to tho Fruitgrowers' Federation, the New Zealand Nurserymen's Association was represented. ... Mr.' Kobertson said that thanks to'the subsidy granted by the Government they had been able to hold their most successful conference, and they soon hoped to combine themselves into one big body. Mr. ,T. B. Tonar (Auckland) .urged that light railways should be laid down iii tho fruit districts to facilitate transport of tho product. He also stated that shelter belts should not be cut down in the fruit districts affected. Some of the suburban areas said that the shelter belts alongside the roads ruined the roads, but if tho trees were cut down. .the fruitgrowers would be ruined.' Mr. Martell (Hawke's Bay) put forwafd several remits carried by the conference, particularly a revision of the tariff • on packing paper, and fruit canning machinery, and the appointment of more instructors. In regard to the last-named, ho said that it was desired that increased salaries slipuJd bo paid the instructors. Mr. C(. A. Green (Auoklaud) placed before Mr. i\lassoy tlio various matters requiring amendment in the existing laws covering tho fruit industry, atid asked that provision for a Nomenclature and Certificating Jjoard should bo made, and protection given to new varieties, etc. An oxporiniental orchard was also sought for the North of Auckland. Mr. A. Davidson (Central Otago) asked that a more rigid inspection should be made with regard to eodliu moth and other orchard pests. They also thought (hat" they wou.ld get better results if the experimental orchards wore placed under tho control of tho Orchards Division. Mr. ,T. Longtou asked for a grant of iCIOOO, to bo paid back out of levies. In replying, Mr. Massey said that ho was pleased to see that the industry was developing. He happened to know that the outlook was very good. AVith regard to proposals for increased expenditure, he could not give them any promises. There was nothing wrong with our revenue, but tho war had had a greut deal of eftect on it. Tho matter of light railways had been under consideration, and provision had been made to alloiv local bodies or associations of settlers to provido tlicso themselves. Ho could say that tho shelter belt legislation was never intended to interfere with orchardists. When it was pat on tho Statuto Book it was i:o apply to tall belts of gum trees shutting out the sun. from the roads. The question of importing machinery, etc., affected revenue, and he did not know what assistance could be given. If it was right to •place their machines on the same footing as agricultural machinery it should_ be done. Thero would not be much time this session for legislation apart from war matters. He had hoped that the paper mills here would be producing by now sufficient and proper paper for tho orchards, lie w.t; quite willing to give ellect to the suggestion by the conference for a hoard as "proposed, fo long as all parties were in ivreenient with it. Some little had been done in connection with the experimental orchards at AVaerenga and Tiiuranga. lie would give attention to the matter when the opportunity offered, and could think of no better place than Ncrth Auckland. As to a moro rigid inspection, ho was glad to hear they proposed vigilance committees. That would meet with the approval of tho Department. In conclusion, lie said that . recommendations ooimiist jww men would S»W

At tho invitation of tho management of Shortt's Pictures, the delegates to tho Fruitgrowers' Federation's Conference visited Shortt's Theatre yesterday afternoon, to view a picturo showing tho fruit industry in New Zealand. Tho film was taken by the Department of Agriculture in New Zealand, and showed fruit, production in all its stages, from tho planting of tho trees to tho packing of the fruit. Tho film was very interesting, and prolific crops were depicted, and a stack consisting of 1000 cases of apples. The fruit-growers wero vory pleased with the display, and gave three cheers for Shortt's management- before they left.