PRICE OF PIP FRUIT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 34, 19 November 1943, Page 2

PRICE OF PIP FRUIT.

GOVERNMENT OFFER REJECTED. DECISION BY GROWERS. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. IS. The directors of the New Zealand FruitgroAvers’ Federation, have refused to accept the Government’s price for the coming season’s pip fruit crop. For some months the federation has been negotiating with the Government for an increase in the price. Last year’s price, Avith concessions, was the equivalent of an average of 6s a case. For the coming season the federation claimed 6s 7£d, which, it said, Avas barely the cost of production. It was believed that the Government Avould accept the finding of the Stabilisation Commission on actual production costs as a basies of the price. The federation’s statement is as follows:—“A distinct shock was experienced by the directors to-day when they met the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), the Minister of Marketing (the Hon. B. Roberts), and the Minister of Rehabilitalion (the Hon. C. F. Skinner), to hear the result of the consideration av Inch had been given by a sub-com-mittee of the Stabilisation Commission to production costs in the pip fruit industry. The committee had spent three months in consideration of these costs, but Mr Nash advised the directors of the federation that production costs could not be considered, and that the only concession which could be granted was a small allowance in the way of a cool store premium on portion of the crop, and the cancellation of the inspection levy, with a vague promise that the position of growers on uneconomic orchards Avould be considered. “Amazement and dissatisfaction were most emphatically expressed. The directors refused point blank to accept such unreasonable terms.”

COMMENT BY MR NASH.

ECONOMIC SURVEY PROPOSED,

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. IS. Commenting on the FruitgroAvers’ Federation’s statement the DeputyPrime Minister (the Hon. W. Nash) said to-night that the information conveyed to the federation was in accordance with the decision of the Stabilisation Commission, in Avhich it was stated that since 1938 the cost of fruitgrowers had increased by-lid a case, while the Government had increased the price by Is 2d a case. Fruitgrowers were covered by the Prime Minister’s original pronouncement when he introduced stabilisation in December;, 1942, when he said that the priee of main farm products would not be allowed to rise, nor would farm costs be allowed to increase.

“It has been established,” said Mr Nash, “that between the 1943 and 1944 growing season no increase in costs has had to be borne by the industry. It was recommended that a bonus of 6d a case should be paid on all fruit which, in the opinion of the inspector, is of a type and maturity suitable for storage for four months or longer. This bonus will be paid during the coming season. The inspection fee of id a case at present charged by the Government will be abolished. The Internal Marketing Department will extend its purchasing schedule to include fruit beyond the maximum count of 252 apples to the bushel, at a price to be arranged. The return to the producer for such apples will be outside the apple pool arrangement.

“A. committee of inquiry will be set up to make an economic survey of the industry with a view to determining means of improving the position of that part of the industry below the economic margin.” Mr Nash said that when the evidence was available, the Government would make speeial provision for fruitgrowers whose orchards did not show a reasonable economic return for the labour entailed in production.