"YEAR OF DISASTER"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 168, 3 August 1937, Page 8

"YEAR OF DISASTER"

Fruitgrowing in Hawke's Bay ASSOCIATIGN REPORT "Tliis year will, we believe, go .down in the history of fruitgrowing in Hawke's Bay as the culminating year of disaster, following as it does on the beels of last year's hurricane. To have two such years in succession is a test. of endurance that, I am sure, none of us wishes to experience again," says the president of the "Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association, Mr J. H. Milne, in his annual report, whieh will be presented at the Association's annual meeting in Hastings. "The situation brought about by these disasters has obviously overshadowed all other activities of our organisation," the xeport continues. "Immediately after the frost a relief committee was set up and, with the ready assistance of Messrs E. L.'Cullen, H. M. Christic and W. E. Barnard, M.P.'s, an effort was made to obtain assistance. The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, accompamed by the Director-General of Agriculture, Mr Cockayne, visited the district. They were shown over several orchards, and reCeived. first-hand information about the damage done. "Further negotiations with the Qepartments of Agriculture and Labour resulted in a measure of assistance being given to those most in need. This relief has been. instrumental in keeping on their properties many orcliardists who miglrt* otherwise have had to seek employment elsewhere. .The Mayor of Hastings, Mr G. A. Maddison, with Mr Cullen and a number of Hastings business men, paid a visit to severai typical or.chards in the district and what they saw convineed them that the report of damage done was in no way exaggerated. Our export total foi the year (some 9000 cases) also bears testimony that the losses were not exaggerated."

The Horticulture Committee oi lnquiry took evidenee in - Hastings, and its comprehensive report is expected to lay the foundation for a more orderiy system of local fruit marketing. The organisation of labour and the tixation of wages and working conditions mado it necessary to form a local /branch of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' lndustrial Union of Employerb. This has now, been accomplished with a substantial menibership. , "Two field days held at the experimental orchard were-well atteuded. Addresses were given by Mr N. J. Adamson on up-to-aate orchard practices and frost prevqntion. A deinonstration oi oil-burning pots was given, many growers expressmg their intention of adopting this method of protection. Mr Atkinson gave an outline of the experiinents undertaken during the past year and an indication of those to be carried out during tlie coming season. A number of experiments could not be undertaken as owing to the frost, no fruit was available to work on. . "The annual picmc at the show grqunds was well attended. A tug-o'-war was introduced, for whieh the prize was a shield presented by Mr Ralph Paynter. The Haumoana team won it. Because of the scarcity of fruit, it was thought advisable to make a special effort at the autumn show. A stali was secured and a fine dlsplay .was made, representing the path to health and happiness. The president, with members of committee, toured the district to meet members of the association. and to enrol members for the employers' union. A series of applepacking classes was recently conducted by Mr Adamson, under the auspices of the' association, and some 30 young people were initiated into the fundamentals of this branch of our work. "We wish to place on record our appreciation of the able services rendered' by our secretary, Mr A. L. Baumgart, who has had extra burdens placed on him this., year with frost relief, adjust* inent court, and labour matters." To the vice-president and members of. the committee also thanks are expressed for their good attendance, their earn'est desire to for ward the interests of tlie association, and their good feliowship and sympathy. Thanks are also extended to the Press for co-pperation in giving liberal publicity to activi'ties during tlie year."