NELSON FRUIT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 140, 10 December 1929, Page 10

NELSON FRUIT

THE EXPORT POSITION

GENERAL DISSATISFACTION

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

KELSON, 9th December.

The fruitgrowers throughout tho Nelson province, evidently dissatisfied with the manner in which export fruit was dispatched from Wellington last season, some of it being in a very matured state when finally stored on board Home-bound ships, have decided to institute an inquiry.

A meeting of the executives of all the fruitgrowers' organisations in the province was held at the Bluff's shed last week. There were 30 delegates present, representing Nelson, Stoke, Redwood's Valley, Wairnea, Hills-Union and Motueka. The object of the gathering was to discuss how best to elicit information concerning the causes of the heavy losses to the exporters of this province last season by reason of the long delay in shipment and consequent damage to fruit; priority of shipment; the extraordinary differences in prices obtained; rebates on fruit sold; cold storage, with consequent losses in the United Kingdom; the damage to New Zealand's reputation in overseas markets generally, etc.

Mr. A. Forsyth presided, and Mr. J. Dicker, federation director, gave some figures indicating tho extent to which some growers had failed in their estimates and the efforts on the part of tho management to secure additional space.

After discussion, it was resolved to set up a committee of investigation, such committee to consist of one representative from each association in the province, each association to defray the cost of its own delegate. The meeting also carried, by a large majority, a motion in favour of an investigation by growers and disapproval of the petition now in circulation requesting Government interference, and that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Hon. H. Atmore and Mr i-.. Black, M.P.