PRICE OF APPLES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 301, 20 December 1943, Page 5

PRICE OF APPLES

GOVERNMENT'S OFFER

FARMERS' UNION PROTEST

The disappointing attitude of the Government in regard to the price to be paid for the ensuing crops of apples and pears was referred to at the monthly meeting of the Auckland provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. The president, Captain H. M. Rushworth, recalled that, when the submarine menace was acute, the British Government found it impossible to arrange shipping for exports of apples from the Dominion. New Zealand growers then found themselves without an export market for about a million cases of fruit, and the Government agreed to pay them about a nominal price of 3/6 a case to keep their "heads above water." The position had now changed, and there was an enormous demand Tor •pip fruit. The Government, however, now offered only a small increase above'the 3/6 paid last season. ; On the motion of Mr. J. H. Furniss it was resolved that a committee be appointed to consider the form in which effective action could be taken in the matter. The following were chosen as the committee:— Messrs. J: H. Furniss (vice-president), R. R. Blade (Ahuroa), E. Palliser (Waihou), A. C. A. Sexton (vice-presi-dent), R. J. Glasgow (Onewhero), and R.W. Strugnell (Omokoroa). The following motion was also carried:—"That the N.Z. Farmers' Union (Auckland Province) considers that the fruitgrowers of New Zealand have been offered a most inadequate price by the Government .for their fruit, and will give full support to their organisation in the efforts being made to secure a fair and adequate price."