The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-03-31

7 ence and business ability who are sub
0 stantially interested in the growing of
! fruit.
J The particular function of this or
ganization is to promote a closer CO.
, operation between the grower and the
consumer and we feel that in the apple
industry there is no organization that
is better equipped to succeed in this
very difficult undertaking, and we be-
lieve the future will demonstrate that
this organization will prove of sub
stantial benefit IN securing better
prices for the growers and be prom
inent factor in promoting the coopera-
tive spirit which is developing in this
country at the present time more SUBJ
stantally than ever before in its his
tory.
= The Association has availed itself of
the facilities of the Consolidated Fruit
Company. Inc, during the past season
and the use of this service has contrib
uted to the very satisfactory prices re-
ceived for our fruit when all of the adj
verse conditions with which we have
been confronted have been fully con-
sidered. We feel warranted in stating
that it has not only assisted us in Sc.
curing better prices, but that we have
less cost.
! While it gives us pleasure to report
the results obtained in the sale of our
fruit, it is with regret that announce
the fact that Mr.. G. w. McCullagh has
| rendered his resignation as Sales Man
| ager, and that from and after the first
day of April next, we will be deprived
of his services, and | am sure the
Members Of the Association will join
with me in wishing Mr.. McCullagh
complete and permanent success in his
new field of endeavor.
Retrenchment
The belief of the wisest men of our
country and those who are best equip
ped to form valuable opinion, is that
we must gradually return to pre-war
basis. This means that we must use
every effort possible consistent with
good business judgment to retrench
and therefore endeavor at all times to
curtail expenses. and that salaries,
wages and the cost of operation must
be commensurate with the business
condition of the country and the prices
paid by other organizations for similar
services. We must not lose sight of
the fact that as times and conditions
become normal we can secure compe-
tent help to supply our needs as they
arise and that we will thereby be able
to reduce our continuous help to the
maximum needed during the Stacker
parts of the season, as we have been
unable to do on account of the strin-
gent condition of the labor market
during the war period The logical
conclusion is that the cost of buildings
and equipment will gradually decrease
and it therefore behooves us during
this period of declining cost of con-
struction to be as conservative as our
needs will permit in new construction.
We should not only do this on account
of the cost of construction being re-
duced later, but from the further and
more important fact that our Members
can i'll afford to supply funds during
this reconstruction period except to
supply our pressing needs.
The past season has been one in
which the effect of returning to normal
conditions following the war has made
the work in every department more
difficult and satisfactory results more
uncertain of attainment. When we
consider these difficulties and unsatis-
factory conditions the final results
warrant us in giving due credit and
expressing our appreciation of every
department and the loyalty with which
the several departments have coopera-
ted to serve the interests of the Asso-
citation.
The work of the Board of Directors
for the past year has probably been
more difficult than that with which
any former Board has been confronted
and we would fail in our duty to the
Board of Directors if we did not ex-
press our appreciation of their faithful
service under the difficult and unusual
conditions which have confronted them
during the past season. The untiring
efforts of the Board of Directors and
the loyalty of the Members have all
contributed to the final result.
The loyalty of the Members is
wholly demonstrated when we consider
the fact that Notwithstanding the ex-
conditions that we have
been confronted with; all of which
were made known to the growers be-
fore the cancellation period. the ton
mage cancelled this year was materially
less than the average of former years,
and the tonnage of new Members was
largely in excess of the average of
former years, and the further fact that
the tonnage of new Members for the
past season was many times greater
than the cancelled tonnage.
The three basic principles which
have at all times been our motto and
which we have at all times striven to
attain, are HONESTY, ABILITY and
Of these three cardinal
virtues, HONESTY is the most impor-
tant and the one which must be guard
ed and protected far more than any
other, for from this flows another and
more important than all others, viz:
The Members have shown their
CONFIDENCE in the organization by
their loyaty and support at this critical
time. The past is secure and it is but
Just and fitting that we hereby renew
our determination and rededicate our
selves to guard and protect each and
every one of these cardinal virtues,
and that we here highly resolve that
these cardinal virtues shall permeate
every department of this organization
and that this shall apply not only to
the servants of the organization, but
also to the Members themselves in car
rying out their part from the inception
Of the fruit, through the spraying. cul-
tivatlng and harvesting. and that the
grade stamped on every box will re-
present honestly and correctly the
character of the fruit therein, to the
end that in every department Of our
work from the blossom to the harvest
and from the harvest TO the consumer.
may always prevail and
thereby create not only IN ourselves.
but in those who purchase our fruit.
that most to be desired condition of
all, viz: CONFIDENCE.
APPLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION,