AUCKLAND FRUITGROWERS' UNION.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 368, 17 November 1898, Page 3

AUCKLAND FRUITGROWERS' UNION.

The annual conference was held on Monday, the President (Mr John?) in the chair. Annual Report.—The executive submitted the following report of the year's proceedings -.—The first event to claim attention was au attempt made in the Legislature to pass the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill. 1897, a measure that had been only a few days before fully discussed and criticised by the conference, and strongly condemned as inimical to the best interests of fruitgrowers. Strong protests were Bent to the Minister for Agriculture. Soon afterwards the Agricultural Department notified the association that it was intended to transfer to the union the Government entomologist for Auckland, Capt. Brouu, and the Department to subsidise the union to the extent of £IOO per annum in part payment of his salary. Against this proposal the executive, ably assisted by the executive of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, so strenuously objected that the Department reluctantly relinquished the idea.— Experimental Station : The executive in an interview with the Secretary of Agriculture, poiuted out the necessity for the establishment of an experimental agricultural and horticultural station in the Auckland district, and in this matter they also received the cordial support of the Agricultural Association. The Secretary recognised the desirability and utility of such a station, and inspect, i several sites near Auckland, but nothing definite resulted ; subsequently two members of the executive again interviewed the Secretary for Agriculture, the question of cost was pleaded as the chief difficulty in the way. The executive greatly feared that until all the Auckland members of the Legislature combine to enfore their claims to consideration, the Lincoln College in the far South will be the only place in the colony where object-lessons in economic agricultural science will be taught, and the North will remain destitute of this indispensable aid to the acquirement of progressive agriculture. Fruit-drying : This sulject, an important one, especially to growers residing in remote and inaccessible districts, whence green fruit cannot easily be sent to market, was brought forward by the members who visited Wellington, and on this matter the reply of the Secretary for Agriculture was more favourable. The Department had a suitable dryer on hand, and this, in charge of an expert instructor, would be available to teach growers in the North the latest and best method of preparing evaporated fruit or vegetables for market, — Sale of fruit: This questiou has occupied a considerable share of the executive's attention. The union's two Wellington delegates. Messrs Johns and Sharp, were instructed to make careful inquiry as to the methods of fruit disposal pursued there. The result of these inquiries appeared in a report compiled by Mr Sharp, who called a meeting of all the Auckland fruit salesmen to consider the matter. This conference of salesmen has, the executive believes, led to beneficial results, for, though no definite plan of action was agreed to, or, at any rate, adhered to, yet the lack of suitable premises wherein the whole of Auckland's fruit supply, as well as other produce, could be submitted for sale was fully recoguised ; while several minor matters affecting both producers and salesmen were dealt with. It was to be hoped, in the interests of all concerned, that some scheme would be adopted whereby the present wasteful and inconvenient method of scattering fruit and other produce throughout the city for sale might soon terminate— Orchard and Garden Pests Bill, '.898 : The chief aim of this measure was really to protect the Southern districts from the moth-infected fruit of the North, while the scale-infected produce of Southern orchards was to be permitted free access to all the Northern markets. The apple scale (Mytilaspis potnorum) was a pest more to be dreaded than even the codlin moth, and was just as difficult to eradicate ; yet it was not included among the pests that the Bill sought to ■uppress. The executive at once took active steps to oppose the Bill, and invoked the aid of the Auckland members, and apparently as a result of the determined attitude adopted by the Executive Committee, the Joint Stock Committee . decided to afford an opportunity for fruitgrowers giving evidence before them upon the point at issue. The Joint Stock Committee being anxious to elicit the opinions of growers throughout the colony as to the merits or otherwise of the Bill, invited the union to Bend two delegates to Wellington to give evidence before a committee of the Legislature which had been set up to inquire and report thereon. The delegates, Messrs Johns and Sharp, in accordance with the expressed views of a conference of all the affiliated associations, not only condemned the measure while being examined before the committee, but strenuously strove to impress upon members of the House the hurtful effects such a measure would have upon the fruit industry of the North. They all insisted that were such a measure passed, the apple scale should be included in its schedule, and this the committee recommended in its report to the House. The Bill so altered did not appear so attractive to Southern people, and the executive noted that it was now (November 1) among the Bills dropped for this session.— Bulletins on Fruit Prospects : The utility of this was fully i recognised at the late conference, and this year timely preparations had been made to secure full and complete returns from the various districts, so that growers may receive the full benefit which a fairly accurate estimate of the crops may be expected will be secured to them.— Proposed shipment of apples : The executive regret that the proposal made by the Agricultural Department through Mr Blackmore last year to arrange for a shipment of apples from Auckland growers for the Home market the Agricultural Department guaranteeing a minimum price of Id per lb—proved abortive, partly through the lack of a sufficient quantity of apples offering, but chiefly on account of the terms finally iixed by the Department being entirely different to those offered in the first instance. Those growers who at first were ready to bring forward a quantity refused to entertain the terms offered, and thus nothing resulted.—lnsect pests : The advisability of importing into the colony the European bat and the Australian night-jars to prey upon nocturnal insect pets, has been considered and recommended by Capt. Broun, Government entomologist. The kohlmeise, or German moth-eating bird, should also prove the fruitgrowers' friend were it introduced here. Election of Officeks.—The following were elected :—President, Mr Wm. Johus ; Vice-President, Mr John G. Kay ; Executive Committee, Messrs E. W, Morrison, J. Parr, S. A. Brown, H. E. Sharp. L. Hanlon, Karl, W. E. Lippiatt, J. Ohye, Wilson and Flewellyn. jlfie salary of the Secretary was fixed A"2O, to be iucrcased to £25, if funds jiuld allow. Fbc Sales.—Several Auckland auctioneers interested in the sale of fruit, met the conference in discussion on the question of the better arrangement of fruit sales. Mr Kay (Vice-President of the Fruitgrowers' Association), introduced the business by pointing out the advantage that would accrue if it were found possible to establish a central depot in Auckland for the sale of fruit, where the whole of the auctioneers concerned could dispose of the fruit sent them in rotation, thus bringing all intending purchasers together, instead of allowing them to distribute themselves at the various auction rooms, as at

present. Even if this could not be done at once, the auctioneers might arrange among themselves to hold their sales at their present rooms in rotation. Mr Hall (salesman) urged upon the fruitgrowers the necessity cf seuding their produce to town in more marketable form, and of making, efforts to bring about a reduction of railway freights, which he considered exorbitant. Mr R. Arthur stated that the auctioneers were moving in the direction of an auctioneers' association, which they hoped would becima au established fact before long. If this were brought to a successful issue the association would certainly make it its business to assist and protect the growers as far as possible. Mr Tooman did not think it would be possible to briug the whole ot the auctioneers in Auckland together, and suggested that the fruitgrowers should combine and place the whole cf their fruit in the hands of two of the foremost auctioneering firms for sale. These auctioneers could then see how it acted, with a view, if satisfactory, of openit'g a central depot where the two, or more, could sell. After several other salesmen had spoken, the auctioneers were thanked for their attendance, and 'he hope was expressed that a satisfactory arrangement would be come to between the producers and salesmen.