FRUIT EXPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 94, 22 April 1926, Page 10

FRUIT EXPORT.

GROWERS' PROTEST. CONTROL BOARD BLAME,,. SHIPPING SPACE INCREASED. ', Shipping space for another 70,000 cam Of apples has been secured Thi, * direct result of a vigorous protest Sa_ has been made by growers from all nart, of the Dominion's fruit areas P T £ irnouncement which appeared in Tester day's "Star" to the effect that pa C k£ for export must cease, was received 3 consternation by orchardists, who _.»* been induced by the Government and Control Board propaganda to increr- K » their export of apples! acreage . At a meeting of the Nelson' ExporW Association very strong criticism Vas made of the way the export' of. a P T,l es had been managed. "The Control Board is costing us £4000 and we could have done.better ourselves," was one comment There was an insistent demand that Nel" son, which exports over 400,000 cases should have more say in regard to export. A Nelson exporter, who is in Welling. ton, was asked to report on the conditions of the fruit stored at the Wellinston wharves. He stated that 40,000 casea were in cool store and 79,008 cases were • in open sheds. In some instances the stacks were 15 cases high and the grower saw men using the tiers of fruit cases as steps, no running boards being used. "The handling of the fruit in the sheds and at the ship's side is abominable," he said. "My impression is that the handling is rougher this year. Many of the men appear as if they do not relish bending their backs, so there is what one might call a drop-and~-_an» system of handling." °. The Control Board and the Shipping Board are endeavouring to arrange for extra steamer space, and the latest advice is that the prospects are good for an extension of the guarantee to 75,000 cases. Steps- are also being taken to arrange for the Port Hobart to load part of her apple cargo direct at Nelson. Auckland Telegram. A telegram signed by Mr. S. W. House and Mr. G. A. Green, president and secretary respectively of the Auckland Fruitgrowers' Council, was yesterday dis* patched to the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. O. J. Hawken, a 9 follows: "Cool stores already nearly full of apples. Doughertys and other late varieties barely ready to pick. It will be serious to growers and the country if the balance of the crop cannot be shipped under the guarantee. Our council strongly supports the application of the Fruit Control Board for extended guarantee and shipping facilities to cover the bal. ance of the apples available." ; LATEST DEVELOPMENTS. PACKING TO RECOMMENCE. '\ (By Telegraph.—Press Assoclatlimj ) WELLINGTON, this day. It is stated that everything possible 1b being done in Wellington to relieve the congestion in the export fruit trade. The secretary of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation and Fruit Control Board, Mr. H. E. Napier, has telegraphed a* follows to tho various exporting districts: — '*"_ "The Shipping Committee, at able inconvenience, have made available another 70,000 case space. The guarantee is being considered by the Government, hut indication, are sufficiently hopeful to ■ warrant, a recommencement of packing. Districts must make. their own cool storage arrangements. Our space full meantime." It is stated that probably the Port .Hobart will load 30,000 to 40,000 cases of apples at Nelson, provided the necessary , labour is forthcoming, and the ship is a full apple boat. Altogether some 120,000 cases of apples will be lifted by ttie Port Hobart. In regard to the Government guarantee being extended, it was stated that the question would come before Cabinet this week, but until then no announcement could he made. A SYMPATHETIC MINISTER. ! (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The following'reply has been received hy the Hon. W. W. Snodgrass from the Minister of Agriculture: "Received your telegram re export of apples, and I must say that I think some better organisation is needed in connection with the control of export. I have upt through two extensions of the guarantee within two weeks, the last, only yest-rday, and as you know Cabinet does not meet every day. However, you can rely on my doing my best. It is very gratifying to know that the Nelson crop of Stur« mers is exceptional. From all accounts the apple crop has been surprisingly