EXPORT OF FRUIT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 242, 26 July 1935, Page 8

EXPORT OF FRUIT

GOVERNMENT POLICY OUTLINED ■ i ■ ASSISTANCE TO CEASE IN 1937. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, July 25. A review of the last fruit export season was given by the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, when speaking at the New Zealand Fruit Export Control Board conference to-day^ Mr Macmillan said a heavy yield in the 1934 season combined with continued dry Weather during the fruiting period, had resulted in the last season’s apple crop in the majority of commercial fruit growing areas being a light one. Pear and stone fruit trees were not so materially affected by the dry conditions, and yielded good average, crops. As a result the 1935 season export was the lowest since 1929, the total quantity exported being 1,063,420 cases comprising 942,296 cases of apples, and 121,124 cases of pears. Of the quantity exported, 703,770 cases of apples and 94,159 cases of pears went to the United Kingdom, 80,164 cases of apples to the Continent, 67,747 cases of apples to North America, 47,028 cases of apples to South America, 42,579 cases of apples and 26,965 cases of pears to Sweden, and 1008 cases of apples to the East. The Government guarantee of the 1935 export would apply only to fruit shipped to new markets. Apart firm that, the Government would contribute to the New Zealand Fruit Export Control Board’s central fund, irrespective of claims on a £ for £ ibasis, up to £12,500. In 1936 and 1937, where the grower’s average return was below the average rate determined by the Board, the Government would pay to the board’s central fund 50 pet cent, of the shortages, provided the agreed-upon rate did not exceed 9s (New Zealand currency) a case c.i.f, for .overseas destinations, and provided the fruit had been exported in accordance with the Government export requirements. The liability of the Government under the arrangement was not to exceed £12,500 for each year. Government assistance to the central fund would cease with the payment made for 1937.