HOROWHEHUA FRUIT GROWERS ASSOCIATION.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 July 1911, Page 2

HOROWHEHUA FRUIT GROWERS ASSOCIATION.

MEETING AT LEVIN

A meeting of the Horowhenua, Fruitgrowers' Association was held last evening at the Oddfellows' Hall, Oxford street, Mr J. C. Neali, the President, presiding over a good attendance of members. OFFICIAL VISITS. • Mr Kirk, the Director of Orchards wrote stating that he would bo glad! to know the date in each month on which tho Association held its meeting. This information would be of assistance to him in arranging for officers of his department to bo present a.nd givo any particulars required re fruitgrowing, etc. The secretary (Mr Fosella), stated that lie had supplied the necessary information, and added that he had pointed out that visits from officers of the Department would alw.nys be of great .service to the Association. NEW ZEALAND FRUiTGR OWER.S' FEDERATION. QUESTION OF INSPECTION. The secretary stated that he hud writen to tho New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation asking for information with regard to the aims and constitution of tho Federation. In reply, he had receive], from the secretary of the FederfuSinVj ■ relies and regulations of the Federation. The secretary of the Federation also asked tho Association if it would now take into consideration any remits it might have for tho next conference. Some discussion took place as to remits the Association was in. "a position to send up. In the course of this, criticism was passed upon the way in which the work of inspection of orchards was carried out. The chairman said that there ware numbers of trees in the locality that should be out clown. He thought the proposal that the various associations should appoint their own inspector, and pay him by a levy oil the fruit sent out of each district, was a good one. 'Hie association would have absolute control of the inspector, and in this way the Act could' be better enforced. Mr Newport thought an inspector should be placed in every district of note. For instance, one could be appointed for the district from Paieka kariki to Manawatu bridge. Eventually, on the motion of the secretary, seconded by Mr Newport, the following resolution was adopted: "That as this association has just been formed, it is advisable to leave the question of joining the Federation to a latter date." Tt was also decided to ascertain the cost of registering wider the Unclassified Societies' Act.

THE EXPORT TRADE. Tiie following letter was received from the secretary of the Moutere Fruitgrowers' Association :—"1 am instructed, by my association to brinw under your notice tlto (piiestioin, of the export of fresh fruit for the coming season. As you are probably aware, a shipment of about six | thousand cases of apples was dispelled from Nelson this season, while a rather smaller shipment was seiiit away the year before. Unfortunately throiurh faulty handling, neither of theso shipments has 'been am unqualified success. My association recognises that, with the hundreds of acres of orchard thai, arc now being planted every year (the estimated planting in Motueka and Moutere districts alone for the, coming season being one thousand acres) it is absolutely meccssary that an export trade lie worker] up. In HiOO the Government guaranteed a penny per pound clear to all exporters of approved varieties of apples. Owing to the partial failure of the Nelson shipment they had to pay bet wen CMOO and CIOO. This year a partial guarantee was given tho Government guaranteeing a penny per pound so long as tho total payment did not exceed £325. Tt is not yet known to what extent this guanuitco will cover the loss by freezing of part' of the Nelson shipment per s.s. Riimitaka.

My Association feels _ that next season will be a very ' critical one

for the fruit industry. Large apple r crops arc expected as a groat airea i of young orchard is coining into'bear--0 ing. It is absolutely necessary that s a considerable portion of the crop 1 be exported, otherwise the New - Zealand markets will be absolutely 1 glutted. • After two years experi--1 ence it is extremely unlikely that - any part of the Government guaran--0 tee will be required, hut, a,t the - same time, growers are nervous of 3 taking the risk after the unfortunv ato experiences of tlie last two years. I am therefore instructed to ap- > proacli every fruitgrowers' associa- . in the Dominion to ask them to impress upon the Minister for Agri- > culture the importance and 'Urgency - of granting a full guarantee of a ? penny per pound on all apples ex--1 ported for at least one more season. > ft is felt that after the splendid way ■ «n which the Government helped the I dairy industry in its early stages, ; it is not too much to ask them° to > come to the assistance of the fruit • export trade which is just in. its in- ■ fancy, but which promises, with careful .handling, to assume very large proportions-in not the very distant future. I trust your association will seo its way to communicate with the Minister for .Agriculture and with the member for the district in this subject which is of such importance to the whole industry." The chairman aaid'that tho letter was a very important one. The Government should certainly continue the guarantee for at least another season. In fact it should help the export industry till it doulc! look after itself. Ho thought all the candidates who were standing for Parliament should .be seen in connection with the matter. Mr Field seemed to take a great interest in tlio subject, and also did Br Byron. Brown and Mr Monc-kton . Mr Grace said that another session would be held before a dissolution, and under the circumstances ho thought the best man to approach was the sitting member. The chairman : l)o you think we could arrange for a deputation to see Mr Field on tlio matter? Mr Grace: Yes, T think so. He proposed that the chainnan and secretary form a deputation to request . Mr Field, to urge on the Government the continuance of the guarantee of Id per pound on all export apples. The motion was adopted. tart wjw uwuffr