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CITRUS FRUIT.
Central Association's Report.
Organisation "Come to Stay."
Except in regard to exportation of fruit
to Great Britain the year ended SOtli
April lust was tlio most successful ex-
pciiencc-d by the Yieloriau Central Cit
rus Association Ply. Ltd., which was
formed in December, 1023. 'The directors
in then- annual report staled that the
association , both in membership and
finances was stronger. 'Hie outside
wholesale agents, who formerly had looked
askanco at its operations, had admitted
that tlio association bad "stood all shocks"
and had "eoinc to stay." While the accre
dited agents stated that never in the
history of the Melbourne market "luid
prices been stabilised on such satisfac
tory prices to growers." In the absence
of a Irno basis of comparison, some grow,
ers liad found it difficult to appreciate
what the V.C.C.A. had mount to the in
dustry generally. They were apt to lay
stress on an occasional fluctuation in
prices as evidenced by an outside agent's
account sale. The .correct test was the
average returns for the season from tin:
accredited agents compared with returns
under similar seasonal and crop conditions
of 'u year before growers brought the
V.C.C.A . into existence. A fail- compari
son curried out under those conditions
should convince any doubting grower of
tlie indirect but substantial dividend?
paid by the V.C.G'.A. u> all engaged in
the citrus industry. in many other
aspects the association had been of sub
stantial service to growers. . , By a spe-
cial arrangement with an importing Arm,
softwood cases had been made, available
to Y.O.O.A. growers at a ebeaper rate
than they could have otherwise obtained
them.- Similarly u big .reduction had
been brought about in tlie price of trees
by placing purchasers in touch with the
actual growers of the -trees instead, of
nurserymen's agents. Clippers had been
supplied at a 30 pel- cent, reduction on
prices, previously ruling, and picking
gloves , have been seat out at manufac
turers' prices, while V.C.C.A. purchasers
of graders have enjoyed a special dis
count. During tlie year the strictest eco
nomy was practised consistent with elll-
cioney. This policy, together with a new.
system oi' collecting levies and tlie greater
quantity of fruit handled over the pre
vious year's total, enabled a fair profit
to be shown in the year's transactions.
Tlio policy of the association in regard
to the regulation of supplies for the -Mel
bourne market was carried a step further
by a tightening up of tlie control over
the l'ruit. Each of the accredited ageniH
was kept constantly informed by tlie mar
ket . representative of every luove and
prospect- They were thus able to se
cure prices .well ahead, on the average, oi
those secured by outside agents. In
some . instances when tlie market was
ovorsupplied the fruit was held back to
prevent a collapse of the market. Outside
agents, anticipating a fall, disposed of
tiieir fruit at lower rates, but the
V.C.C.A. prices were maintained on the
cleared market. In this way many hun
dreds of pdunds were saved to association
erowers.
Export . to great Britain during
the past season was not extensively car
ried on. This was largely the result oi
the action of the Federal Government in
delaying its decision regarding -the pay
ment of out-of-pocket expenses. When
the decision was announced, and it was
found that it was limited to 5/ per case
and based on tlie average realised ' for
each grower's fruit, the gravest dissatis
faction was caused. Export to Great
Britain was still in the ' experimental
stage, and tlie directors felt that until the
Federal Government frankly accepted, its
responsibility in this regard on behalf of
the citrus industry of Australia, the plnnb
ing of further citrus areas would be seri
ously retarded. It was satisfactory to lie
able to record the fact, however, that
the representations of the V.G.p.A. in
favor of a scientific investigation into the
problems associated with both culluvcand
transport were being given effect to.
Arrangements had befcn , made between
New South Wales and Victoria and
South Australia i'or regulating supplies
to the New Zealand market, but it had
been found impossible ot put, these m
operation up to the present owing to the
passenger steamer having been withdrawn
from the service for overhaul. When the
steamer Manuka resumed, it was intended
to send a'definite number of cases from
Victoria and South Australia on .each
voyage. Efforts were made to open up
trade in China, but owing to tlie unsettled
political coudition of tliat country, at the
time, the attempt had to be abandoned.
The directors intended to take this mat
ter up ugaiii this season should tlie op
portunity present itself. That a good mar
ket existed in Canada had beeu shown
by a report of the Australian Trade Com
missioner in America.' If a reasonable
freight rato could bo arrnuged, districts
might be asked to provide a lew cases
as a trial shipment. It was the policy
of the directors to reduce export charges
,io the lowest possible amount, making
the general funds- stand as high a per
centage of the overhead charges as pos
sible.
lit conclusion, the directors state that
they believed that tliey were now within
measurable distance of power .being created
to collect a levy from" all growers of
citrus fruits, whether inside or outside
the co-operative movement. Alter years
of ngitution, during, which, citrus growers
were hold back by other sections of tlie
fruit industry which could not make lip
their minds between a levy uud an or
chard lax, the Minister of Agriculture
decided to make a start with a proposal
ufi'ectiug the citrus industry alone. In
order to secure uniformity among the
several States, M r. Bourchier brought
forward the question at tlie recent inter
state conference, of Ministers- of Agricul
ture at Brisbane, when a resolution was
carried favoring; the introduction of legis
lation in .each State, to enable levies to
be collected on a compulsory basis on
all citrus fruits marketed. Mr. Bourchier
hud since announced his intention .of in
troducing a bill into the Victorian Parr
finmeut in the coining session to pro
vide for tlie collection, of a levy from
all growers. The directors viewed the
attempt by tlio State Fruit Advisory
Board to establish a fruit marketing
scheme to 'bring closer in touch producer
and consumer, particularly in country dis--
triels, as a valuable demonstration of
what" could be done to increase consump
tion of fruit. In order that the scheme
could be properly carried out. prices had
to be fixed for certain periods. It was
imperative that districts which had agreed
to supply should honor tiieir . uiidortnk-
iiigs irrespective of fluctuations on the
Melbourne market. '
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