FRUIT EXPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 273, 17 November 1936, Page 9

FRUIT EXPORTS.

RETURN TO GROWERS NOT LESS THAN 9/ A CASE, REFUND OF GUARANTEES. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) NELSON, Monday. The fact that the average return a case of export fruit sent to the United Kingdom during the past season was as low as 8/4J New Zealand currency —it is estimated that 10/ is required for export to be a payable business—was mentioned by Mr. W. Benzies at a meeting of fruitgrowers held at Mapua. However, by an arrangement regarding the guarantee fund and the distribution oi Government contributions to that fund as a grant instead of a loan, he said, each grower was to receive not less than 9/ per case. Mr. Benzies said it would be recalled that the New Zealand Fruit Control Board had a three-year arrangement with the previous Government for the granting of a loan to growers on fruit not making 9/. However, the board felt that that would in no way meet the position this year, and had asked_ the Government through the Hon. W. Nasli, to help the industry if the season resulted as it was feared it would. Mr. Nash had sailed for England before the final figures had been received, but from a cable from London stating the total amount realised the board kr.ew average return would' be 8/4J New Zealand currency (0/10 sterling), a position which had never been experienced before. Mr. Nash had been told ot the position, but lie had said the Government could not go further than its previous commitments for the 1936 sens-on. However, the Government would not be against the board distributing the money collected for the guarantee fund by a levy on growers. The £25,000 set aside could also be paid out as a grant and not as a loan to growers. The board had decided that all growers, whether claimants on the guarantee or not, were to be refunded the amounts they had paid in guarantee levy during the last three years. That money would now go back to the grower. There were claims on the guarantee of £43,000. There were £25,000 of Government contributions in the fund and it would be distributed as a grant and not as a loan. The board had two objectives in its present arrangements—to make sure that each grower got back the amount lie had paid into the fund and to ensure that no exporter would get less than 9/ per case for the season's export.