Fruitgrowers.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 February 1913, Page 2

Fruitgrowers.

4 Horowhenua Associate ion's Meeting;. The annual general meeting of the Horowhenua Fruitgrowers' Association was held in Levin last night, the president (Mr J. C. Neill) in the chair. There w«s ft satisfactory attendance of members, and in addition to these the orchard inspector for this district (Mr Stratford) was present. After the annual report (already published in The Chronicle) had bed read, Mr Blackburne raised the question of starting a library in connection with the association. Mr Neill thought the suggestion :• good one, but he did not thing the funds of the Association could bear such a strain at present. He thought it might be well if members of the Association Arranged to lend to each other what special literature they had: in that way a good deal of mutual help could be afforded. Finally the report iand balancesheet were adopted, on the motion of Mr Blackburne. seconded by Mr Oreig. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mr Neill proposed that Air Blacftbume be elected president. Mr Neill was proposed for reelection. and also Mr Newport was proposed, but- both declined nomination. ■Mr Blackburne then was prevailed upon to Accept the office.

The three vice-presidential offices were filled by the election of Messrs Neill, Oreig. and Cobham.

For the offices of comniitteenier Messrs H. Newport. H. B. Butler and D. Laing were chosen.

Mr M. Fosella was unanimously re-elected secretary, nd Mr Dean was made Auditor.

•Several new members wero electe to the Association.

A hearty vote of thanks was at corded to the retiring president (M Neill) "for the able way in whic' he had occupied the chair and pro nioted the Association's interests dm ing the last two years."

In acknowledging the compliment, Mr Neill said his duties had been an absolute pleasure; there had boei no trouble of any kind, and the members all had striven to the one end.

A hearty vote of thanks to the secretary also was passed.

Mr Fosolla. in acknowledging it. said lie was illn<l to sop a more widespread disposition in the district to support the association. At times ho had liopii .a little downhearted at Uio kick of support, lint now there was a welcome change apparent. FRUIT BY POST. -Mr Stratford, Government Inspector. apologised for his inn.bility to bring Mr Hyde down with him-—Mr Hyde had had to go aw.ny to Hawke's Hay—hut Mr Stratford himself would endeavour to explain exactly what the '•'fruit by post" scheme was. The term "fruit I>v post" really was misnomer; the post office reoJlv yr\\ran arranging authority. which brought the railways and steamships companies into touch, and by moans of the "fruit order coupon" the books of the orehardist were kept for him l>v the Post Office. By 'aking advantage of this scheme the fruitgrowers would get consumers afar off in addition to those at closr 'inarters. The way to make this scheme go was to advertise in districts where it was thought there would be a good market. Mi 1 Stratford went on to say that a good form of advertisement would he something like tho following: —

HOTTSEHOLD FRUTT .SUPPLY. Direct from Growers. Poaches choice dessert, /- per cn.se. Plums /-, Apples /-, Pears /-. These prices hold good until Use fruit 'order coupon, obtainable at any Post Office. J. BROWN, Orchardist. - Pal mors ton. r udor this scheme the best of fruit would go direct to the consumer I'trom the grower, and the grower would get a fair price for his fruit. Hi this scheme all the prospective purchaser has to do is to go to the Post Office, where he is told what will be the charge and freight to the town where the purchaser resides. The Post Office does the rest, and it collects from the person ordering the fruit enough to pay tho freight a? well as tho grower's charges. The grower thus will get liis money sure and promptly, and also the money with which to pay the freight. The fruitgrowers should givo the scheme a fair trial—to do so would eost them only a few shillings for advertising —and in a few years''time, when the fruitgrowers were needing new markets in consequence of the greatly increased orchard acreages there would be, this scheme would he of great help to the growers. Mr Hyde had been around the several districts seeing station-masters and other people concerned, and had got assurances that tho despatch of fruit would bo expedited, and sent fo--ward by first available trade. . j On tho motion of Mr Neifl Mr Stratford was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his explanation of the scheme. Jfc was further resolved that the Association thanks the Orchard department of the Agricultural Association on the inception of the scheme of distributing fruit by Post Office coupon.