A "CRITICAL STAGE"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 207, 27 May 1920, Page 6

A "CRITICAL STAGE"

FRUIT INDUSTRY REVIEWED

DOMINION CONFERENCE OF GROWER,

Many important phases of tho fruit industry were reviewed at the annual conference of the Now Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federal ion, L«.d., which -penrtd yesterday morning in tho Dominion Varmers' Institute. Mr. J. Loneton 'president of tho federation) was in the chair, and there was a large and representative attendance of delegates. The proceedi.i"B were opened by the Hon. W. Nosworthy Minister of Agriculture.

During tho day. Dr.-C. J. Bcakcs, tho Director-General of Agriculture, attended tho conferenco. and briefly addressed tho dolegateß. Minister's Address.

Tn his address to tho conference the Minister said the fruit industry had reached its important and critical stage. There wert> now somo 37,000. acres of commercial orchards in tho Dominion, and comparatively large areas, in addition to the total mentioned, were'gradually coming into bearing. On this account the question of c much-improved mnrkotiii" organisation, both for the local and the export trades, had become a matter demanding the most cartful consideration. Tho fruit industry had not yet reached th« stage to ensure a reasonable return for the commodity produced, but tho industry wae ctill young and the tims was rhe for a thorough itv-ostigrtlon of the prospects 'and possibilities. There were three chamois available for the flispop.il of the fruit crop, namely, export, local fresh fruit markets, and by-nrodncts such as cnnr.ing, jara-makimr and evaporation In stating that the nrosoects for crt-ah-r. successful oxnnrt trade in fruit were not nearly so bright ns thev were several year? nro. the JT'ihter said that the South American nmrkct was lost for a time at Hast, while the European markpt.s wei'cnot only far d'.stnnt. but a'l costs iMath-p to cxprr*. very mptr-ri. ally merest. thu« reducing the j.robnble margin of "refit. Hon-cv.-n-. they would have ppmethinf mo'vv definite to -_o on a little late as to the value of the European market, as a result of 'he shipments nlrcad" s«*t forward. n.ir\nini» pnd other lii-.nr.idu-to in vW of the high cost of lnbo"r. fruit, sut:ir, ot".. r.si" olitnini"" in su.(Tffeete"d f.T ("•nnt o !' nopp.!hilitieß. hut to succeed in this the in'mrl'ictfnn of thi l"t.e?t .•»,?(! jn^^}i}|ipv v xvne epfpntip l . Th? i-rrT",-,. diato hopo of the ntiwnrs ntilT. lav in il"> development of the local fresh fruit markets. A Rii>»n«r fit—>. In a short address the chairman pointed out that considerable progress had fccciu made during the year with organise tion, and there was every reason to i.elieve that tho co-operative associations would "make gosd." A.t nresent there were between 3000 and 4MO commercial Towers linked up with the federation. The season had been a most abundant one. but unfortunately on account. of insufficient shipping tlfey hadl not been able to get away as much of the crcp as was d/wired. The shortage of sugar last year affected the stone ; frnit growers very considerably. Whether eupplics o! sugar •would be available for use with noxt reason's crop was not known, and representations would have to be made to tho Government on the point with a view to pottinp an assured sunplv from the Sugar Company. Tib was satir-fled tbti the American market was going to be of the Tcate°t, us" to growers, and iher had been definitely promised snn.ee on shins next year for Pouth America. With tho openin" of the South American market he was satisfied that very meny of the local fiuittrrowers'. troubles would disappear.

Directors' Raport. The directors In their report to the con-' fercnco said that the financial statement to December 31 last, showing a balance of orchard tax received and not snout amounting to £804 13s. 4a., should be satisfactory, as it kept the federation in a position to take part in any desirable work that mfrht ari6o. The accumulated capital of £799 14s. 10d., outside of orchard tax funds, durine three years from' a modest start of £110 in 1916, was evidence of the power of co-operation. This amount had been put aside to provide funds for extending the work of tho federation. The regulations lor the control oi packtnx and grading had at lnneth been completed, and gazetted, and it was for growers to mako the best uso cf them. Now that these standards v. ere set, there should be a marked' iinpror* ment in the condition and quality of tho output. Durine tho war the export of apples ceased owing to the want of ship pinp. and this year a commencement was aj-ain made, and threo steamers supplied space for 34.600 cases <if fruit taken to liondon. Growers should be more ready Ccxt year to take full advantage of tho opportunities for export. With regard to funds for box-making plants and developments of by-products, nothing definite had been arranged. It wa3 hoped that tho federation's renuert far horticultural .stations and further experimental orchards would roooive further practical consideration. The federation had steadily continued tho business of procuring firstclass orchard supplies for the use of members, thus effecting considerable savin? to growers. The valuable assistance received from the Agricultural Department and its officers was acknowledged.

The statement of receipts and expenditure disclosed a credit balance or £1590 12?. 2d. ,

Several.delegates criticised the balancesheet, holding that -while careful management was essential it was distinctly not to the credit of the federation that 'he funds had been hoarded up during tho year. Tho accumulation of big balances w.as not one of the alms and objects of the federation, Tho chairman explained that tho directors considered that tho money accumulated could bo spent this year. t;nd the following year with better , resu'ts tlmn would have been attained last year. Tho report and balnnce-sheet were adopted. A Varieties Conference. Arising out of a remit from tho last conference: "That the opinion of ihe conference be taken as to the advisability of holding a further variety conference," a lengthy discussion tool; place. It waa decided that the following delegates should attend the Varieties Conference, to be held at Wellington on Saturday morning: —Messrs. Scott (Nelson). Mtch (Canterbury), Bennett (Otago), KobertFon (UnwJies Bay), and Attwood (Auckland). It was olbo resolved that future conferences be held every three years. Export Troubles, The following remit, which was tabled by the Jlahana. fruitgrowers' Association, giivo rice ts considerable discussion: "That the federation bo asked to Investigate the continued mismanagement of the \arloua shipments ot export fruit culminating in the exclusion of 6000 cases from the Athemc.' Tho secretary said that the exclusion of til! consignment referred to had been largely brought about by the NW#m growers forwaraine their fruit after tho date for which arrangements had been made to receive consignments. Tho whole thing had been a tangle, largely brought about by circumstances over which tho federation had nu control. Mr. M'Keo (Nelson) complained that tho growers had several thousand cases of fruit picked and packed ready tor shipping by the Port Caroline, na per arrangements, only to b» Informed by telegram at the eleventh hour that the space had been cancelled. The result was that the consignment had to be rushed en to the Wellington market*, and sold at n great disadvantage for whai it could fetch.

At this stage tho conference went into committee and considered at length the whole question of the cxiort trade. On resuming, no communication was made to the Press.

The conference affirmed: |'Tha,t the Department be asked to amend the export regulations by changing the classification of varieties to: (1) Solid red; (2) partial, rod; (3) strinod: (4) yellow or «reen. That tho percentage of colonr for tho 'striped' class be 15 per cent., this class to include side varieties as Cox's Orange. Gravcn■etcin, etc." It was aleo resolved to recommend the director* to appoint district ascnts for organising and export work where required. Tho conference will sit again to-day.