FOREIGN FRUIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 211, 7 September 1933, Page 11

FOREIGN FRUIT.

CHECK TO DUMPING. PROTECTION FOR GROWERS. GOVERNMENT PLAN DEFENDED (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. That the New Zealand fruit local industry could not be jeopardised by the dumping of foreign fruit on the local market, especially when the Dominion grower was capable of supplying the needs of the country, was maintained by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, in an address to the annual conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation today. Mr. Coates said the general outlook was now somewhat better, and they could look with satisfaction at the change in the price level, although the results of the fruit season had been distinctly disappointing. The trend of the times was closer co-operation. There was a possibility of being able to market fruit in the United States of America, and perhaps other countries, and the Minister urged growers to study the needs of those markets in order to take full advantage of the opportunity. At the same time, the local market should not be overlooked. It was pleasing to note improvement in local retail shops, which were marketing a better class of fruit and displaying it more attractively. It was not right that certain commodities should be dumped into New Zealand haphazardly to the detriment of the local producer, said Mr. Coatts. If an excellent product could be grown economically within the Dominion, the producer was entitled to a reasonable return. The quality of the lemons was equal to the best Italian and Australian products, and all that was needed was better regulation of marketing.

Asked by the chairman of the conference, Mr. T. C. Brash, to give some indication of the Government's policy in regard to the export guarantee, Mr. Coates said that was rather an awkward question to ask the Minister of Finance. He was not certain of all aspects of the position, but he understood the growers did not want any assistance from the Government once they were in a position to finance their dwn industry. It was not the intention of the Government to deal harshly with the growers, but he understood Dr. C. J. Reakes was going to curtail the guarantee as much as possible. (Laughter). Mr. Coates added that the Government knew the value of the industry, and he, as Minister of Finance, would do everything possible to co-operate with the growers, always with proper regard to the country's finances.