Fruit Growers’ Conference

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1922, Page 1

Fruit Growers’ Conference

EXPORT COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED. WELLINGTON. June 15. At the fruitgrowers’ conference today a. special committee reported on export trade matters, and recommended that a permanent committee should he established to which all export matters should he referred, the committee to consist of representatives of the various districts, and to act in a consultative capacity with the directors of the federation and Departmental officers oil all matters relating to the export of fruit. The Nelson delegates opposed the proposal, being quite satisfied to leave export matters to tlio directors. The clause was adopted.

Various remits dealing with the export of apples were discussed, and the majority wore referred to tho new committee.

Mr Campbell, Director of Horticulture. said the behaviour of the fruit market at TToino this season was very suspicious. Tt ivas decided that next year a. representative' should bo appointed by the Federation to thorough ]y investigate the position ill New Zealand. and then proceed to London. ft was resolved that the Government should he asked to consider the advisability of formulating an insurance policy to cover all risks in connexion with the export of fruit, and t<> guarantee a return to the grower of Id per lb net. tlio ■Federation to submit a scheme of ■Government insurance and advances to Cover deterioration and losses, including had markets, up to Id per lli. net on the whole of the growers of export fruit. Tt was derided to nslc the Government, to continue tlio guarantee of Id per lh on exported fruit. It was decided to set up nil Export; Committee, for the forthcoming season, to act in a consultative capacity with the directors of the Federation and departmental officers on all matters relating to export; the members to consist. of representatives of each of the principal districts, each district to elect one member on the committee, and the voting to he on tho basis of one vote for each 20,000 or part °f 20,000

cases exported in the preceding season. It was resolved to approach the Government, concerning the advisability of formulating an insurance policy covering all risks on the export of fruit and guarantee a return to the grower of one penny per lb not, the Government to bo asked to renew the guarantee of Id per lb for the 1923 season. It was resolved to urge the Governmerit to frame stringent, regulations covering tbo handling of fruit. Strong approval was recorded of the regulations governing the size of eases prescribed by the Department of Agriculture, and it was decided to urge that they he enforced without further delay. A resolution was passed expressing hearty approval of the aims of the Institute of Horticulture, and pledging support to the movement. It' was decided to urge the advisability of establishing branches in connection with every fruit-growing association belonging to the Federation. “The behaviour of the fruit market at Home this season is very suspicions.” stated the Director of Horticulture (Mr Campbell!. “I don’t say that there has been anything dishonest T would not go as far as that—still a lot of things have been happening that we cannot understand. Fruitgrowers have lost a great deal of valuabe information because they had no representative at Home.” Tt was decided that next year a representative should he appointed by the Federation. He would thoroughly investigate the position in Hew Zealand. and then proceed to London.