104 



THE CANADIAN II ( ) R T I ( T L T U R I S T 



A lively discussion umk place regarding llus 

 matter. Sample barrels were broiiglit in and 

 used to illustrate tlie points raised. Telegrams 

 from N.S. were read protesting against the 28 

 in. barrel being made the standard, although the 

 members of the N.S, delegation were unitedly 

 in favor of such action. Mr. Innis, of CUalliam, 

 representing the largest manufacturers of apple 

 barrels in Canada, spoke at considerable length. 

 He claimed that the manufacturers can supply 

 28 in. staves more easily than 'M) in. and that 

 the flour trade is changing to the use of 28 in. 

 barrel. He also claimed that the 28 in. barrel 

 is almost universally used in the U.S. Mr. 

 Jack favored the smaller barrel because it more 

 nearly represents the contents of 3 boxes. The 

 Ont. representatives admitted that many grow- 

 ers in Ont. are using a 30in. bbl., for the sake 

 of uniformity, were willing to agree with the 

 other delegations in favor of a standard bbl. of 

 28 in. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Ross said that the 

 28 in. bbl. is used almost. exclusively in Southern 

 Ont. Messrs. E. D. Smith and M. S. Schell, 

 both members of Parliament, objected to grow- 

 ers being prevented from using the larger bbl. 

 if they desired, but on a vote being taken on 

 the resolution, it was carried practically unan- 

 mously, only three voting against it. 



TARIFF ON SUGAR 



A discussion took place on a resolution 

 in regard to a change in the tariff on sugar, but 

 the resolution was finally withdrawn, when it 

 was found it would likely create a controversy 

 and take up considerable time. Mr. R. Ander- 

 son, of Montreal, s[)oke at some length on this 

 subject and claimed that the sugar manufac- 

 turers in Canada, owing to the tariff protection 

 they receive, make a profit of about $2,000,000 

 a year over and above a legitimate interest of 

 7H per cent. 



FRUIT BASKETS 



A resolution was introduced regarding the 

 size of fruit baskets. The conference was asked 

 to adopt the same sizes as were recently recom- 

 mended by the growers of the Niagara district, 

 who are the most interested in the matter. 

 This resolution, owing to the lack of time for 

 thorough discussion, was left on the table. 



THE GERMAN APPLE TRADE 



Mr. Chapin, of Toronto, read a paper showing 

 the importance of the apple export trade that 

 has developed during the past few years with 

 Germany, and which is seriously threatened 

 by the tariff on apples that will shortly go into 

 force in Germany and which will practically 

 stop the importation of Canadian apples. The 

 delegates felt that the matter was an important 

 one and were in favor of everything possible 

 being done to reach an agreement with the 

 German Govt. Mr. Fisher explained what 

 has led up to the present difficulty and claimed 

 that the Canadian Govt, is willing to consult 

 on this matter with the German Govt, as soon 

 as the latter shows a willingness to do so. 



FUTURE CONFERENCES 



A resolution recommending the establishment 

 of a Dominion Pomological Society was adopted, 

 but was later withdrawn when Hon. Mr. Fisher 

 promiised to arrange for future conferences 

 regularly, every two or three years. This 

 promise was received with great enthusiasm. 



1D0MINI0N3FRUITJDIVISI0N 



The only regrettable feature of the confer- 

 ence occurred in connection with the matter 

 of the Fruit Division being under the control 

 of the Dominion Dairy Commissioner. It was 

 caused by what many of those present looked 

 on as a little sharp practice on the part of 

 Hon. Sydney Fisher, who was acting as chair- 

 man when this matter was raised. 



Ever since the fruit division was placed under 

 the charge of the dairy commissioner the fruit 

 growers of Canada have been dissatisfied, and 



on Ireiiui-m occasions have made ilieir dissatis- 

 faction known. In spite of explanaliims that 

 have been given by Mr. Fisher for his action, 

 resolutions condemning the arrangement have 

 been passed by several of the provincial fruit 

 growers' associations as well as by numerotis local 

 associations. 



Hardly had the convention convened before 

 this question was raised privately amonij the 

 delegates. It was known that Hon. .Vlr. I'isher 

 was opposed to making any change, but the 

 growers felt that the matter was of such ira- 

 ])ortance that they should place themselves 

 on record. They pointed out that as this is 

 not a question of the officials now concerned, 

 but one of principle, and that as it is felt the 

 importance of the fruit industry will never be 

 fully recognized until it is accorded a chief of 

 its own, who will be directly responsible to 

 the Minister of Agriculture only, their views 

 on this matter should be made known at the 

 conference. 



Owing to the many other subjects of im- 

 portance that had to.be con.sidered this matter 

 was not brought up until near the close of the 

 final session, when a resolution was submitted, 

 among several others, by the resolutions com- 

 mittee This resolution read as follows: 



"Resolved that in the opinion of this con- 

 ference the time has arrived when the horti- 

 cultural interests of the Dominion should be 

 represented ijy a separate division under a 

 chief directly responsible to the Minister of 

 Agriculture." 



The members of the resolutions committee 

 that brought in this resolution represented 

 all the provinces. It had been agreed quietly 

 among the delegates, that should any discussion 

 on the resolution arise, speakers from different 

 provinces should get up and make the views 

 of their growers known. 



Before reading this, which was among several 

 other resolutions, Hon. Mr. Fisher announced 

 that, to save time, those resolutions that could 

 be passed without discussion, would be passed, 

 and that any which required discussion would 

 be set to one side and debated later. Several 

 resolutions were passed, and one or two were 

 set to one side for further consideration before 

 this resolution was reached. On reading it 

 to the convention, Hon. Mr. Fisher seemed a 

 little surprised, and immediately set it to one 

 side, among those to be taken up later, with 

 the remark that he had something to say on 

 the subject. These other resolutions were 

 taken up in order and settled, but Mr. Fisher 

 apparently overlooked this one, as instead of 

 reading it he proceeded to bring the conven- 

 tion to a clo.se, by thanking the delegates for 

 their attendance and congratulating them on 

 the success of the conference. This action on 

 his part caused general surprise among the 

 delegates, who had been waiting for this resolu- 

 tion with considerable interest. 



Some thought that Mr. Fisher had over- 

 looked the resolution unintentionally. It was 

 then after 5 o'clock on the last day of the con- 

 vention and a hasty debate between some of 

 those who had agreed to support the resolution 

 when it was submitted, led to its being decided 

 to let the matter drop, the belief lieing that 

 the resolution, as submitted by the resolutions 

 committee, was sufficient to make their views 

 known to the Dept. 



The unfortunate part of the incident lies 

 in the fact that subsequent developments 

 give strong reason to believe that the reso- 

 lution was intentionally overlooked by Mr. 

 Fisher, with the object of preventing the 

 growers from having an opportunity to make 

 their views known. This is shown by the fact 

 that when Mr. Fisher handed this resolution 

 to the official stenographer, and to the reporters 

 present, it bore the words at the bottom, 

 "laid on the table, S.F." The resolution was 

 handed to the reporters just as the conference 

 finally closed, and thus must have been noticed 

 by Mr. Fisher. When he wrote on it, that it 

 had been laid on the table, he wrote what was 

 not the case, as the matter had not been dis- 



cussed liV lltc i-'Jiiivmicc. If the rcMtlulion is 

 published in the official reixirt with these words 

 attached, it will give the impressi(jn that the 

 matter had been <liscussed by the conference, 

 and was not considerc<l of sufficient imjxirtanre 

 to be finally dis|K)sed of, and that it had In 

 left on the table with their consent. This ■■ 

 not the case. Those present will be surprised, 

 theref<ire, if the resolution is published in this 

 form. In the meantime it can be stated that 

 probably every delegate present was prepared 

 to stand by that resoluti(m, and that thiv 

 regret that the matter was disixised of in : 

 manner in which it was. It gave the imim 

 sion that Mr. Fisher felt the weakness of his 

 position and that he did not like the idea of 

 being called on to defend it Ijefore such a repre- 

 sentative gathering of growers. 



OTHER RESOLUTIONS 



I 



Near the close of the conference, and at odi 

 moments during the meetings, several resolu- 

 tions of minor importance were adopted. These 

 included the following: 



"Resolved that this conference recognizes 

 the efforts that have been made by the Govern- 

 ment in the direction of fighting and controlling 

 the various insect and fungous pests of the 

 fruit industry, and trusts that such efforts 

 will not be relaxed." 



NURSERY STOCK 



"Ftirther resolved that inasmuch as serious 

 losses have been sustained by fruit growers by 

 reason of the sale of nursery stock of inferior 

 quality, and untrue to name, this amference 

 urges the various provincial governments to 

 enact such legislation as will thoroughly safe- 

 guard the interests of the purchaser of such 

 stock." 



DEVELOPI.NG M.\RKETS 



"Resolved that this conference is in sym- 

 pathy with the aims of the following resolution 

 passed by the Ontario Fruit Growers' Associa- 

 tion: 



"That we recommend a vigorous campaign 

 in conjunction with the Dominion Government 

 to exploit the apple markets of Europe, Great 

 Britain and South Africa. 



"To appoint agents whose sole duties will be 

 to open up markets in these countries. To ask 

 the Government to continue to improve the con- 

 ditions of cold storage for tender fruits, so that 

 the shipper may have the best facilities for 

 reaching the markets of the world." 



FRtriT MARKS PENALTIES 



"Resolved, That the Dominion Fruit Grow- 

 ers' Conference recommend that the Fruit 

 Marks Act be amended so as to increase •'"■ 

 penalties for third and subsequent violat! 

 of the said Fruit Marks Act." 



DOMINION FRUITS 



"Resolved that this conference, whilst freely 

 acknowledging the great good done to horti- 

 culture by the pubHcation of valuable bulletins 

 on the various phases of the science, does re- 

 spectfully request the extension of the work 

 to some permanent treatise on the fruits erf 

 Canada with colored plates permitting of the 

 easy identification of varieties and containing 

 such information in regard to them as may be 

 generally useful." 



DIRECT SALES OF FRUIT 



J 



"That in the opinion of this conference 

 proper method of selling fruit is by direct 

 individually or cooperatively, and that this 

 conference urges upon the governments and 

 upon the growers that a better system of prun- 

 ing, spraying, grading and packing be adopted 

 that will enable our fruits to take a higher 

 stand in the markets of the world. 



FRUIT INSPECTORS' WORK 



"Resolved that this conference does hereby 

 recommend to the Dept. of Agri. the continn- 



