48 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



manner. The Dominion fruit conference was about to be held 

 and the officials of the United Fruit Companies attending that 

 conference were instructed to bring the matter up as an emer- 

 gency. 



In the meantime the strongest weapon of the organized fruit 

 growers was used. Steamship brokers were instructed to as- 

 certain what independent tonnage was available for chartering, 

 and it was quickly found that no difficulty would be experienced 

 in obtaining all the boats necessary to carry the United Fruit 

 Companies' apples. The United Fruit Companies then in- 

 formed the International Combine that they proposed charter- 

 ing independent boats, and as an indication that this was no 

 idle threat two boats were chartered. This had the desired 

 effect and we were quickly notified that the steamship com- 

 panies had decided to reduce the increase by 19 cents. 



Now the moral to be drawn from this short but sharp fight 

 is that organized and united the fruit growers of the valley are 

 a power, a power that can demand and obtain fair treatment. 

 The fact that the organized fruit growers were powerful enough 

 to charter their own boats and powerful enough to be abso- 

 lutely independent of the regular steamship lines has saved the 

 valley 19 cents on every barrel of apples that will be shipped. 

 Consider what this means. If only 600,000 barrels are shipped 

 this year the United Fruit Companies will have saved the 

 valley $114,000 — $114,000 in the pockets of the growers in- 

 stead of the pockets of the steamship companies. 



If the United Fruit Companies had not been in existence, 

 the advanced freight rates would have gone into effect and the 

 growers would have had to pay, or allow their fruit to rot. 

 The few big shippers probably would not have paid the increase, 

 but that would only be a repetition of what has happened pre- 

 viously, and the ordinary , growers would have had to pay, 

 while a few privileged individuals would not. By taking space 

 and retailing it to smaller shippers, the favored few would have 

 become just so much richer at the expense of their less fortunate 

 brethren. 



As individuals, the growers can do nothing; as an organized 

 body working co-operatively, they are a power to be considered. 



The co-operative movement in Nova Scotia is just what I 



