HELP FOR FRUIT INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22300, 14 January 1938, Page 8

HELP FOR FRUIT INDUSTRY

GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS REVIEWED GRANT TO MEET HIGHER WAGES (TSE3S ASSOCIATION TK.KOKAM.) WELLINGTON, January 13. t, * statement on assistance for the * I? « idnstrv the Minister for Labour S& Hof H' T Armstrong) said he ( like to remove an impression XS? » sum of £40,000 had been set th fl to Ss: growers in the Hawke's If Strict blcause of loss through Frost damage'. "Tne sum of £40,000 was Srt aside" by the Government to enable the fruitgrowers to pay the jnSSsrf wages operating since February 1 Vrnd had no connexion with the special assistance granted the Hawke's Bav growers," said the Master. ••At the same time the assistance in-anted Hawke's Bay growers has been ?er? considerable, and up to the prelenY approximately £IO,OOO has been naid to growers in that district in the form of sustenance and subsidies on labour employed in orchards." Mr Armstrong reviewed the circumstances leading up to the grant of £4OOOO to fruitgrowers,,adding that, as a large number of growers failed to submit the necessary returns to enable the department to fix a basis for disbursement of this amount, it was impossible to pay out claims against it, except those in the Hawke's Bay district which were allowed after a visit' by departmental representatives. Export Guarantee Discussing the export guarantee, Mr Armstrong said he assured a guarantee of 10s 6d a case last season, and j proposed a guarantee of lis a case for the 1938 season. Even having regard to increased costs, this was a more liberal guarantee than had operated since 1927, when the present method of export guarantees was first instituted. An Order-in-Council would be issued to help to overcome difficulties facing the packing industry, if it had to comply with the 40-hour week provision and other Factories Act conditions. Mr Armstrong said he had immediately made arrangements for the preparation of the necessary Order-in-Council, but, in view of the fact that the packing sheds would not begin operations before the end of January at the earliest, there had appeared to be no extreme urgency. The Order-in-Council had now been approved, and would be gazetted this week. Mr Armstrong contended that the Labour Government had been ] exceptionally good to fruitgrowers, but, in view of the difficulties confronting the industry and its importance to the country, he was not suggesting the Government had done any more than was reasonably necessary. PACKING AND GRADING OF FRUIT FACTORIES EXEMPTED FROM | FORTY-HOUR WEEK (I'BESS ASSOCIATION TSLEBKAU.) WELLINGTON. January 13. By the Factories Act Extension Order, 1938, issued with the Gazette,

works or factories engaged in packing and grading fruit are added to the second schedule of the Factories Act, which is not subject to the 40-hour week. The new order also provides lor overtime payment at the rate of time and a half for male workers engaged on holidays and Sundays. A proclamation issued with the Gazette provides for Otago fruitgrowers to come under the control of the Fruit Control Board. Otago originally seceded from the board and a petition was recently forwarded by growers asking that they be brought under the board.