FRUIT GUARANTEE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 260, 2 November 1928, Page 8

FRUIT GUARANTEE.

DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY

SIR. JAS. GUNSON AT ORATIA,

A large and enthusiastic meeting of fruitgrowers was addressed by Sir Jas. Gun son at Oratia last night, Mr. Frank Firth presiding. The Reform candidate for Auckland Suburbs was accorded a most attentive hearing, the greater part of his speech being devoted to subjects of interest to orchardists.

Sir James defended the Minister of Agriculture, making special reference, to the Minister's sympathetic interest in the welfare of the farming community, instancing the Government guarantee to fruitgrowers, thus securing them with a definite return from their export, which had grown from 500,000 cases of apples last year to over 1,000.000 cases this year. He considered that there were still markets which could be opened in Europe for our New Zealand produce, Sir James having covered 14 countries in his recent trip abroad, having a splendid opportunity of observing market possibilities at first hand. The candidate referred to the importation of Canadian and American apples, and was applauded when he stated that in his opinion the importation should be restricted to not more than two months in the year, as it was wrong to import apples into New Zealand when large quantities of local grown were still in the cool stores.

A vote of thanks and confidence, moved by Captain Theet and seconded by Mr. Marriner, was carried unanimously.