A MEETING OF FRUITGROWERS.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 42, 7 January 1902, Page 5

A MEETING OF FRUITGROWERS.

A meeting of raspberry growers was held, at the Church- of England school room last night to consider the best means of utilising the: present overplus of fruit. There'was a fairly numerous considering the short notice given. • The chair was occupied by Mr R. J. Trewavas, and called upon Miss Fearon, who stated that on acof the difficulty of 'many settlers in getting rid of their raspberries she had wired to Messrs Irvine and Stevenson on the subject and had received the following telegram :—“lf you guarantee 100 tons yearly for five o/ears we will send a man and wire you ■£qr patent for <£2 per ton.” The cost ot sulphurising, rent of engine, building etc., had been gone into and it was found it could be done for about .£3 10s per ton. It would be necessary for the growers to find casks, and give the guarantee required : it was also suggested that if the sulphurising expenses were not paid at the end } of three months, the raspberries to be iiable to seizure ; and could be sold by the pulpers, and after deducting charges the balance to be paid over to the growers. Free storage to foe provided* for twelve months. Miss Fearon also mentioned she had communicated with Furness and Co, Auckland on the subject, who required a sample cask, aed offered a given price. Mr A. Drummond said that so far as he could understand the situation, they were to do the sulphurising on their own account and there ' was no guarantee that they effect, a sale. The raspberries sulphurised were only suitable for factories and not for private use. The agreement would be binding for five vears.

The chairman said the real question was us to whether the process was a suitable one for them. The pulped raspberries would always supersede the sulphurised fruit, concerning which there'was no evidence before them as to how long it would keep. Besides, although it might not be unmarketable it, might be difficult to sell. When the pulping factory they had in theii midst became thoroughly known throughout the Colony it would receive orders for the pulp, which would have the preference. Mt- McLean said that, so far as he could see, there was not sufficient data f >r them t > do anything definite.Mr Dudgeon thought the five year’s

guarantee would kill the proposal entirely. If they decided t > sulphurise t.ie suiplus stock for a year and failed to effect a sale, the loss would not be to.

Mr Satherley said after sulphurising the fruit they had to find a market, and there would be nothing to prevent Messrs Irvine and Stevenson from underselling them. . He had seen Mr Kirkpatrick that morning and that gentleman had stated he would do his best to cope with the surplus. Mr E. F. Burrell suggested getting an idea from those present and others

of the overplus and • wiring to Messrs' Irvine and Stevenson, asking them if help them , through :, the emergency, ... .. discussion ensued in which Messrs P. G. Moffatt, Lowe, Mc Lean, James, Dudgeon, and others took part. Upon the Chairman asking those } r jsent if they were prepared to accept tue offer and conditionsmade to them no response was elicited. - The chairman said it was very kind on the part of Miss Fearon. to . exhibit such consideration fbr'them and to do her best to keep them out of the difficulty. His ambition was to establish a very large factory in.four .midst wh’ch ’ would take every raspberry grown in the district,, and to place the

articleupon the market independent of outsiders. -

Eventually, it was resolved, upon the motion of Mr A. Drummond, that the offer of Messrs Irvine and Stevenson be not accepted.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Miss Fearon for the trouble she had taken, also to Mr Trewavas for presiding at the meeting.. Before the meeting closed, it was ugreed that another telegram be sent"to Messrs Irvine and Stevenson asking them to assist them if possible.