Experiment in Selling Fruit.

Manawatu Herald, 28 May 1896, Page 2

Experiment in Selling Fruit.

According to a paper read at the recent fruit conference, a co-opera-live society of fruit growers bag proved a great success in Otago district, says the Standard, and an outline of the basis on which the association is worked will be found to be interesting. From a published re-, sume we learn that only fruitgrower! can be shareholders, and none oan hold shares to more than 10 per cent of the value of their largest crop of fruit. Before being permitted to take up shares a fruitgrower mast sign an agreement to cell to the com* paDy (at such prices as shall from week to week be fixed by the general manager of the company) the whole of his fruit which is consigned to any part of New Zealand north of Milton. The company's agreemenl with growers also provides that each shareholder must keep his orchard clean to the satisfaction of the directors of the company, the saving clause being provided that any regulation must be enforced against all growers, and not ogainst one or* few only. Power ia also given to the directors to have this work done at the expense of any grower who neglects or refuses to do it when called upon. It is also further provided that, the compan^shall appoint some fie and proper person annually to inap.cfc the orchards belonging to the fruitgrowers. The object of this, of c >ur. i e, is to ensure clean and superior fruit. Mf Lorie is the business manager, and all fruit is sent to his auction room for aale, but he has associated with him one of the mem* her a of the association elected to that position by the shareholders. When the fruit is received a certain prioe ia placed on it by Mr Lorie, and the seller get that, whether the fruit is afterwards sold for more or less. As to how the prises are arrived at, Mr Lorie says :— " Every nighi, after the day's'fruit is cold, I confer with the growers' representative a? to the prices we shall pay growers for fruit during the next day, prices realised to date having been carefully analysed, and all outside agents com* municated with by wire. After oom* ing to a decision we wire the prices early on the following morning to the growers, and these prices bold good for all fruit received into- stor* on that day no matter what" is. realised. Thus it may happen that either a profit or loss .is made, bul this in no way affects the grower. It is no moment to him what becomes of his fruit sinpe he is absolutely guaranteed the prices quoted." The returns are said to be very satisfactory to the local growers, and the formation of similar association* «U over the colony would be attended with great benefit to the industry.