FRUITGROWING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3051, 12 April 1917, Page 8

FRUITGROWING

SHOWS;'IN WAR'TIME. ... ; 'At the' lasti meeting of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Association, says a Christoburch paper, a letter was read from the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation' regarding the. holding of shows in- war-time. ':• Mr. JiLohgton said the position was ■; becoming.acute, and labour was very scarce. -He\ was not in favour of a national show, euch as that.to be held in Duncdin* shortly. It took up much valuable/time of busy men. The show and the conference would, probably take up eight or nine days. He consider•Ved that; each district 'should hold a show of its own, and the federation should donate moneys and piizes for the locals'shows. ■ ' •; , "■■•■Tho chairman said he did.not agree with Mr. Longton. The federation was not sot.lip to donate moneys or anything else to shows... It was sot up to 'find oversea markets;for apple-growers. -Another speaker.;.'favoured local .All shows, to 1 be.heldior some years to ' come would : have- to be for patriotic purposes, or ;no one would trouble to attend them. The chairman 6aid he was in .favour '.of Winning the war first._ If the shows were not held for patriotic purposes he would not help them or exbjbit any ■of his fruit, at. them.- .-> ' The letter was received. - '..' The New>-Zealand Federation also -wrote on, the subject of "the case of fruit farms whose owners have been, or may be, called up -under the military service ballot. The latter stated that probably fruitgrowing would be 'treated as an essential industry, provided moans could be found for carry-: ing it on, and it was desirable that fruitgrower? should co-operate with the . authorities in the matter. Fruitgrowers' associations were requested to oonvene speoial meetings to discuss the •' position and formulate proposals- as to how, with the least loss to the State and to the owner; properties of absentees, on military duty, and the interest :of owners aected by. men being oalled ; up, could be protected. These proposals: would be'considered by conference. It was proposed .to ask representatives of the National Efficiency Board to discuss these proposals with

delegates. The letter went on:—"It would be advisable for each association to watch the proceedings of tho National Efficiency Board, and for associations in. each district to combine for the purpose of appointing one fruitgrower to ho a representative of the fruitgrowing industry for .the district," to co-operate with and advise, tho District Commissioner of the National Efficiency Board, and to let him know what the fruitgrowers wish dose." Mr. Lougton said it was an oversight that, fruitgrowers had not been asked to be represented before the Efficiency Board. There were-fruitgrowers and market gardeners in and around Christchurch who were in the Second Division, and who, in the course of a few months, might bo called upon to serve tho Empire. He was very anxious that the board should take tho matter up. Fruit farms were different from ordinary farms; which could be put in grass and stock grazed upon them. With au orchard ono year's jregject would mean, possibly, a very sonoiis set-back, and two or three years' 'neglect might mean absolute ruin". There was a great, necessity for representations being made to the board for. arrangements for those not called up, and for those who had partially retired from' fruitgrowing to look after the properties of those called up. He moved that the Efficiency Boar.d,be approached, and that Mr. Frank Sisson be asked to represent the fmitgrowors of Canterbury before it. Mr. H. Wyatt seconded the motion, which was carried.