The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi.” TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1902.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 88, 17 June 1902, Page 3

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi.” TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1902.

dav the discerning public*, who take an intelligent interest in the affairs of this world, cannot fail to notice the tendency of men whose interests are in common to form associations and combinations for their mutual benefit. Whenever and wherever these associations have been worked on business lines they have been successful and there is no reason why such should not be the case with the Motueka Fruitgrowers Co-operative Company which will be an established fact at an early date. The provisional directors have been hard at work during the past week revising and considering the draft rules submitted by the Company’s solicitors for their approval. The number of shares applied for warrant the directors in nroceeding forward in the matter, which is one of vital concern to the district, affecting as it does the future welfare of every man, woman and child. In a question of this sort unanimity is an absolute necessity, and such unanimity and combination can be secured by those who have applied for shares unhesitatingly and willingly signing the bond which will have the effect of consolidating the fl'uit-growing industry. We have been told there are some of our orchardists who are not in sympathy with the proposed Company. We believe the number to be lnfinit simal, and it is to be hoped the dirt ctors will not follow the example of

Falstaff and multiply their enemies. To those who hesitate to take up shares, we would say, drop all trivial objections, I*o not be a stumbling block because the prospectus of the company doesn’t agree with your ideas as to what should be done. The body of men selected by the last public meeting of fruit growers as provisional directors, are settlers who have the welfare of the district at heart and in assuming the responsibilities attaching to the office did so with ’no object of personal gain or aggrandisement. They recognise in the proposed Co-operative Fruitgrowers’ Company an important and essential factor in the development of the fruit industry ; without it, a policy of disunion will spell ruin to a large number of settlers who have devoted many years of labor-, as yet practically unremunerative, to the planting of large and small fruits in the hope that a market would turn up for their produce. Without combination, that ruin .vill most assuredly follow, and the district will become a veritable Yalley of Poppies, with no life or vitality to animate those who may be unable to “fold up their tents” And seek more prosperous localities. Mr Thomas Pattie, who is a vigorous supporter of the company, has on more than one occasion asserted; that Providence evidently meant this district for fruit growing, on account of the suitability of the soil and the mildness of the climate. Judging by what we have seen of the capabilities of the district in that direction, we are inclined to believe he has rightly interpreted nature and if his fellow settlers will only see eye t'o eye with him, the-Motu-eka Fruitgrowers’ Co-opu-ative Company will be in full working order and ready to manipulate the next season’s harvest of large and small fruits.