WAIKATO FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 406, 4 March 1899, Page 4

WAIKATO FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

The quarterly meeting of the Waikato Fruitgrowers' Association was held at Ohaupo on Tuesday. Present : Messrs J. Potts (in the chair), Johns, Karl (2), Ohye and Krippner. The Secretary laid on the table several pamphlets from the Agricultural Department bearing on fruit culture. Two new members were proposed and elected, viz., Mr E. White, of Frankton, and Mr Samuel Howard, of Cambridge. A letter was received from the general secretary of the Fruitgrowers' Union, requesting some financial assistance and drawing the attention of the Association to the fact that fruit had been sent to market in a damaged state and badly packed, thereby depreciating the selliDg value of superior fruit, and the general secretary was further instructed to request all members of the Union to consider what would be the most desirable means of dealing with the fruit pests, and to suggest what matters should be embodied in a Bill with that object in view. The above letter was written on January 18th. The Secretary of the Waikato Fruitgrowers Association replied that he was sorry the Association could not give any further financial assistance, as they had already contributed. With regard to Orchard Pest Bill, they suggest that a bill similar to the one last season would meet with favour, but only with the sole control vested in Fruit Boards as in the United States, and .-suggested that the Government be approached for financial assistance, which would be preferable to paying useless experts for harassing and abusing fruit growers, The meeting approved of the letter sent by Mr Ohye, in reply. A discusion then ensued on a subject brought forward by Mr A, Karl, viz., " The Canning of Green Fruit."

Mr Earl suggested that a factory at Frankton would meet the requirements of the Waikato, and that a manager need only be required three months of the year. Mr Johns and Mr Ohye thought Auckland would be the proper place. The following resolution was then put and carried : " That the secretary be instructed to write to the Union secretary, requesting him to ascertain what support a j*m and canning factory would be likely to get in Auckland, to which all fruit centres in the province would contribute, thereby enabling green fruit to be grown profitably, and that consumers could have a supply throughout the entire year.s The meeting was unanimously of opinion that the time had arrived when a forward step should be taken towards starting an industry of that nature, and that now pears were beginning to be more extensively grown, means ought to be taken to dispose of them in the most profitable manner. Mr Johns suggested that canning factories should be put up in all the large centres of the colony, and bo relieve the market of the surplus green fruit. Mr Johns stated that the late show at Te Awamutu was a most satisfactory one, and was likely to be a financial success.—(Own Correspondent).