173 



hand, and fluctuation in returns on shipments of goods marketed, 

 caused in part by claims for loss on over-ripe or under-sized fruit, 

 poor packing-, or overheating en route, forced sale on account of 

 a glut in the market through overshipments and finally inability 

 to enforce prompt settlements after sales are made and you write 

 the seamy experiences of nine out of every ten agriculturists in 

 this Territorv. 



Much of the disappointment touched upon in the last paragraph 

 is the direct result of unorganized individual effort, ignorance 

 of market conditions and of the parties to whom products are 

 consigned for sale, with the immediate consequences that advan- 

 tage is taken of the absence of supervision in the interest of the 

 grower and resulting in the paring down of account sales for 

 causes already noted. 



Such experiences as these and the rapid increase in output 

 should point ihe necessity of individual growers getting together 

 on some basis of joint action in order to avoid the inevitable 

 results of procrastination. 



It is highly essential to the success of any joint effort that 

 those associating themselves should do so for the common good. 



Men cannot cooperate successfully if the sole bond between 

 them is self-interest. 



Effort should be made to operate for the general welfare in the 

 purchase and distribution of the necessary supplies, in securing 

 equitable carrier rates both local and to the mainland, to secure 

 better service by guara,nteemg to carriers a stipulated amount of 

 freight in consideration of proper provision for its storage and 

 care in transit; to secure the services of a competent man to look 

 after the care and distribution of fruit at the mainland port ; 

 report condition of goods on arrival ; pass on all claims for deduc- 

 tions and to adopt such means for the extension of the market as 

 may be approved from time to time by the association. 



The expense of such a man would be saved every month in 

 commissions on purchases and increased returns on consignments 

 consequent on his personal supervision of shipments and collec- 

 tions. While these would be among the immediate advantages 

 the more permanent results of his efforts would be found in the 

 extension of business connections and preparedness for market- 

 ing a constantly increasing quantity of fresh fruit; this work 

 would be done at intervals between arrival of consignments. 



Attached hereto is a tabulation of imports of bananas and pine- 



