The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-02-04

be conceded affected prices very ma
terislly, il seems to be the consensus
of opinion that there was an unneces-
sary cutting of prices in the desire to
get business and a lack of proper dis
tribution. Apple grOwers.of the north
west believe that il unnecessary COM
petition can be eliminated and an
understanding be affected and an intel
ligent distribution made that they can
secure from 25 to so cents per box more.
The old idea that the law of supply and
demand governs prices in a measure is
true, but 1T is not entirely true. BY
that | mean in connection with the APP
pie business. If the crop of apples was
sufficient to meet the demand for six
months period it is very evident that
if the entire crop were thrown on the
market in 30 or 60 days low prices
would result. And again, although the
supply may be equal to the demand for
six months, much depends on the dis
tribution. To illustrate this in force
full way, If the supply of apples was
80 600, 600 barrels, much lower prices
would be obtained if all OF the crop was
shipped to Chicago, New York or Bos-
evenly all over the United States.
Growers have come to the conclu-
sion if plan can be devised that will
be acceptable to the marketing institu-
tons, and they believe IL can, that an
orderly control of the entire crop of the
northwest can be maintained, an even
distribution secured, an unnecessary
cutting of prices eliminated and much
better prices obtained.
"The By-product committee realizing
that the apple industry depended pri-
marily upon the profit made in fresh
fruit decided to call meeting of the
growers and also a meeting OF the
heads of the different marketing con-
Germs with view of seeing II some
plan could be devised that would better
marketing conditions of the northwest.
Consequently they notified all of the
different districts to send delegates of
apple growers TO meet in Seattle J8nu-
AIRY 1928. They also requested each of
the marketing concerns to send repre-
sentatives to take part in these deliber-
ations. The delegates we're the most
serious minded representative body OF
men connected with the fruit industry
that has ever met in the northwest.
Harmony prevailed throughout meeting
At beginning of the session the chair
man ruled no discussion of the past
would be tolerated that cast any ret1ec.
ton on the marketing institutions, say
ing further that the sole object OF the
meeting as to devise plan to better
the present marketing methods. Every
body met with this spirit of friendli-
ness, consequently the meeting was har-
monious throughout resulting in an ar
geement which all of the different mar
keting concerns present signed, agree
ing to be governed by board of con-
troll of three 10 be selected by the
growers. 1t is believed that this hoard
of control can meet with the officials of
the different marketing organizations
from time to time determining the ac-
tual marketing value which can be re-
allied and through their power and in
fiuence can prevent any of the market
ing concerns unnecessarily cutting
these prices. Each marketing concern
would be expected and required to fur
nish daily complete record of the
number of cars sold and various grades,
prices, sizes and the markets to which
they are shipped. With such informa.
ton in possession of the board of con-
troll il would be an easy matter for the
board to ascertain daily how many cars
were being shipped to any one city and
by furnishing this information to the
different marketing concerns a glutting
of any particular market could be pre-
vented. Furthermore 1t is the genera
understanding that this board should be
directed to follow the marketing clear
to the consumer preventing the retailer
from charging the consumer any exor
hitant prices in 80 far as they wef,
able, il being a we'll known fact thai
exorbitant retail prices have beer
asked for northwestern box apples II
the past, which prevented consumption
ard a lack of consumption means a lact
of demand.
''lt is the purpose of the districts t
call meeting of the growers in tht
near future TO select delegates for th,
purpose of choosing board of control
This board of control must be compose,
of men who are absolutely square
I broad minded, experienced, of goo,
judgment and diplomatic. In shor
they must be men who will give
square deal and favor no particula
: marketing concern and discriminat
! against none. The growers are YER
) much in earnest and undoubtedly viii
exercise good judgment in the selection
D of delegates which is sufficient assur
t ance in advance that none of the mar
keting concerns could be successful /
! the endeavor TO secure a board of thei
own selection. Growers realize full |
( that if the right kind of board is sc
j lected the plan will be success. o
! the other hand they realize fully tha
r if the right kind of board is not select
t ed the plan will be failure. In fac
J, this feeling is so strong on the part @
= the growers that it is generally bs
lieved that no grower could be pei
e suaded through loyalty TO his marke
i ing concern to vote for any man VIII
t would not stand for the square deal.
d seems pretty we'll assured at the pre-.
: ent time that this plan will be carrie
out and become effective"
] A. !. Mason says:
2 'At the Seattle meeting we did
u whole lot of things from which ma
8 come a whole lot of good. We di
J. some things we should not have don,
Z There we're some things that we shoul
y have done that we did not do. But {
O a whole. think much good will com
Q from the meeting. The rock upo
: which there is the greatest danger {
D the movement being shipwrecke
IS might be the desire of any one organi
e alton trying to control, either direct
u or indirectly, the final arrangement
o which are yet to be made"
IS DR.. G. A. Macrum, of Mosier, wi
= attended the Seattle meeting and wi
was in the city Tuesday, is optimist
over prospects for the ultimate succe
le of the movement started by the b
1t products committee.
IN The delegates at the Seattle NEE
,e ing were there with an honest purpo