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The Central Association has an efficient office staff working 

 on an organized system. Instructions are sent out from the 

 Central office constantly to all subsidiary companies, directing 

 as to varieties to be packed and how, when, and where to be 

 shipped. Space on the various boats is allotted to the com- 

 panies, and directions issued as to method of shipping, etc. 

 Statistics are compiled showing quantity and condition of crop 

 throughout the American continent and Europe. Constant 

 telegraphic advices are received and recorded, giving total 

 estimated shipments of apples from all ports to all ports. Pre- 

 vailing conditions on all markets are recorded daily, and reports 

 received from our representatives and agents from all markets 

 touched by the North American fruits. All the reports are 

 carefully studied and instrufctions issued as a result. The or- 

 ganized fruit growers of Nova Scotia this year demonstrated to 

 the world that co-operation is a mighty factor. 



As soon as the unreasonable increase of ocean rates was com- 

 municated to the Central office, it was recognized that unless 

 immediate action was taken the Annapolis valley would be sub- 

 jected to a tax which would be nothing short of murderous to 

 its industry. The increase of 32 cents per barrel was utterly 

 indefensible; the claim of the steamship companies that addi- 

 tional war risks had to be paid did not form sufficient excuse, 

 as less than half the amount of the advance would more than 

 cover any additional cost in that direction. It was simply an 

 attempt on the part of the combine to take advantage of the 

 war to make those who were forced to ship pay a rate that 

 would make bigger profits for the steamship owners. 



There were two ways of combating this menace; one, was an 

 appeal to the government at Ottawa, and the other, was by 

 chartering boats owned by concerns outside of the Atlantic 

 combine. The United Companies pursued both courses. 



A strongly worded protest was immediately mailed to the 

 minister of trade and commerce. The shippers of the United 

 States were also appealed to with a view to bringing pressure 

 to bear on the combination through the American trade. It 

 was found that the American shippers were all ready to co- 

 operate with the United Fruit Companies, who were alone on 

 the Canadian side in fighting the increase in a determined 



