VPRS 12162 Register of Loans to Cool Stores

The Fruit Act 1915 and subsequent amendments established specific requirements for the establishment of cool stores for storing fruit within a controlled atmosphere. Section 9 of the Act establishes Cool Stores Area Trusts, which were representative bodies established for orchards and market gardens within a designated area, and included representation from the market gardeners themselves and a representative nominated by the Governor in Council. They acted as a channel of communication between market gardeners and government.The Act allowed Trusts to borrow funds from Treasury on behalf of market gardeners to construct cool stores for orchards and market gardens. Trusts were required to repay the debt and additional interest with periodical repayments over an agreed time period.This series consists of a register of loans established under the Act and its subsequent amendments. All entries provide details of the loan amount and the terms and specified repayments of the loan These entries are accompanied by a journal of ongoing repayments and outstanding balances for each cool store trust.