CHERRY GROWERS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 5 December 1930, Page 24

CHERRY GROWERS.

IMPORTATIONS RESENTED. GOVERNMENT TO BE APPROACHED. A protest against the importation of Australian cherries, on the grounds that such had resulted in New Zealand growors being seriously embarrassed, was made at a special meeting of Canterbury growers held last evening. It was called by the Christchurch Tomato

and Stone-Fruit Growers' Association, and the president, Mr H. T. Falla, presided over an attendance of about 30 members.

Mr 11. T. Armstrong, M.P., and Mr J. McCombs, M.P., wore present, and also Mr R. C. Harris, of Otiake, North Otago, and Mr C. Trimm, of Invcrcargill. The resolution carried unanimously after a long discussion was as follows: "That this representative meeting of the cherry growers of Canterbury wishes to bring to the notice of the Government the disastrous effect the recent large importation of cherries has had in completely destroying the , market for local growers, and calls upon the Government to introduce measures to prohibit any further importation except during any period when the New Zealand growers cannot supply the local markets with a sufficient supply at reasonable rates. It further wishes to stress the fact that the heavy importation has resulted in many men being unemployed, and that importation might lead to the introduction of the fruit fly from Australia." Effect on the Market. Mr Falla, tho chairman, said Canterbury growers wore going to be heavy losers as a result of the importation of cherries from Australia. "This is a question that does not affect the growers of cherries only," said Mr C. G. Crow, of Governor's Bay. "Importation of other stone fruits is also a serious problem to the fruit-growers, and it is certain that the importation of Australian cherries has practically ruined the early market for local growers." Mr Falla said that the price of cher ries on the local market on November 27th, 28tli, and 29th, before the importation commenced, were as follows: November 27tli, Is 9-Jd to Is lOd; November 28th, Is 8d to Is 8-J-d; November 29th, Is 4id to Is sd. After the importation had commenced the values were: December 2nd, 8d to Is; December 3rd, IOJd to lid.

"The Government is supposed to be assisting the fruit-grower as much as it can, and has promised to do so, yet it is allowing them to be crippled in this way," added Mr Falla. lie cent Importations. Mr C. E. Pope said that recently between 1000 and 2000 cases of Australian cherries had been landed in Auckland, and about 1400 cases in Wellington. If local growers simply sat with their hands folded and did not take action now they would all find themselves in the Bankruptcy Court. He cited the instance of the largest cherry grower in New Zealand, who had a place at Greytown. He hod been driven from his home market by the Australian supplies being allowed to come in. Mr Pope: I know of people that have left New Zealand to go to Australia go as to export cherries and stone fruit to New Zealand. As the position is at present it costs the growers in Greytown more to land their cherries in Auckland

than it does to bring them from Australia. Mr J. McCombs said that because those present were producers in difficulties they should certainly secure assistance. They were not getting the market that rightly belonged to them. It was not possible to get the duty increased until Parliament met again, but a dumping duty could be imposed if it could be proved that the export price was lower than that ruling in the market in Australia. In his opinion the only adequate protection to local growors would be to prohibit importation entirely, provided that the market could bo adequately supplied by local production and at a reasonable price. Mr Pope: If the regulations were strictly enforced there would be no fruit imported because of the danger of fruit fly. Some of the fruit arrives in such poor condition that it is impossible to market it. Mr Armstrong's Views. Mr 11. T. Armstrong: It is economically impossible to improve the conditions in the secondary industries if there is a state of stagnation in the primary production, and you cannot have high wages and low values for yotir primary products. We advocated protection for the wheat-grower, and the man who grows tomatoes or cherries is entitled to the same measure of protection. We do not allow dumping of wheat, so why should we of any other commodity? I believe in the protection of industries which are natural to New Zealand. Mr D. J. Falla said that if they were only encouraged to produce more they would have more satisfactory prices and have more men employed. The resolution set out above was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously.

It was intimated at the end of the meeting that Messrs Armstrong and McCombs would send a joint telegram of protest to the Minister in regard to the matter.