"Co-operation the Only Hope."

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 May 1911, Page 4

"Co-operation the Only Hope."

e» — ...^ In the opinion of the Victorian Minister for Agriculture growers are largely to blame for the poor prices they receive for their fruit. "They will never get what they should for their fruit," Mr Graham remarked recently, "until they co operate in connection with the marketing of it. They will ne/er ceive proper treatment in the English market until they join together, and s-eiid their own men to supervise the sale of their fruit. The butter exporters have realised the vailue of such an arrangement, nnd the fruitgrowers should do tbt same. Their agents in Engl.i'i-l now are often retail fruitsellers themselves. _ Tn present circumstances it is no wonder that our growers get poor prices for the fruit they export. This is not a question for the State, but for Mie growers themselves. T have tried, to make them see it again . .-ncl again. A man told me that all he could get for Ms plums this seis.vi was 6d a case! I know what tj,,'s business is. I've been through mill. I exported fruit Once, ->ut 1 had to give it up. ill have to realise some time or other that co-operation is their only hope."