FRUIT GROWERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 181, 1 August 1936, Page 19

FRUIT GROWERS.

GUARANTEE SOUGHT.

REQUEST TO MINISTER.

FIiIGHT OF INDUSTRY.

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Friday.

A guarantee of 10/ a case for 193G and Id a lb above costs for 1937 was sought by a deputation from the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation and the Fruit Export Control Board, which waited on the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, yesterday and impressed upon him the difficulties of the industry. Mr. Nash said that the Government would carry out the undertaking to the industry, biit lie said that ho could not go much beyond what he had told the conference.

Mr. H. E. Stephens, chairman of the Fruit Control Board, said the deputation was representative of the whole of the fruit industry. It had been decided to approach the Government for assistance so that the grower might get a decent return for his labour. The Government would not take over the industry until 1938, and it was desired that something should be done to carry them on in the meantime. It was not likelv that the average price this year would reach last year's, and in addition thev would have increased costs at this end'. It had been decided to ask for a straight-out guarantee of 10/ a case for export fruit for the 1930 season, the growers' interest in the guarantee fund to be left intact. For the 1937 season it was asked that there be a minimum guarantee to the individual grower on the basis of Id per lb over and above the costs of packing and transport. It was felt that they could still produce apples at Id a lb. Worth £2,000,000. Mr'. J. Dicker, vice-president of the Fruit Towers' Federation, said the industry was worth over £2.000,000 annually and it was felt that the growers were rendering a real service to the State. Not only were they employing labour, but they were using New Zealand materials, even at increased cost. Hie fruitgrowing industry was a national asset, but to-day it was in danger of becoming a material liability. The condition of the fruit market in New Zealand was deplorable, and the grower was providing a profit for everybody but himselt. In reply, Mr. Nash said it was obvious that something must be done if the ordinary standards of living were to be made available. He liked the c °"?P el£ J" tive principle, but he did not think it was quite fair that the growers fund should be kept intact while the Government's money was distributed. It was pointed out by a member of the deputation tha't the money paid in by the growers was in reality a fund, and the growers were promised that thev would be credited with all their pavments to it. Some had been repaid to growers who had gone out ot the industry. Mr. Nash said he could not " n^ r " stand that particular rection at all. ine Government agreed to put in £l<i,ouu in 1935 unconditionally, and that was to apply to 1936 and 1937. The Go\ern ment would carry out th? undertaking that had been given, but lie could not go much beyond what he had sai o the conference. When the 193G accounts were in they could look at the position, and if the circumstances warranted it the Government would be glad to consider the position. The same applied to 1037. He did not mind initiating n °S°" tiations, though he could not say tha

lie could do anything within the next three months. He thought the industry was worthy of some assistance from the Government, because it had come to the assistance of the Government in utilising New Zealand material, and because it bad ideas inside the policy of the Government.