MARKETING OF FRUIT

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24640, 9 August 1945, Page 6

MARKETING OF FRUIT

GOVERNMENT’S POLICY REMOVAL OF SPECULATION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 8. “Horticulture in all its ramifications could become not the Cinderella of our primary industries, but one of the major ones,” said, the Hon. B. Roberts, Minister of Agriculture and Marketing, at the opening of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation conference to-day He regretted that the industry had rejected a crop insurance scheme, and said that the £25.000 yearly set aside to assist uneconomic fruitgrowers might have formed the nucleus of a storm insurance fund. Referring to marketing, Mr Roberts said the Government’s policy was to remove speculation from the man on the land’s produce and markets, and give him security instead. Three alternatives suggested for post-war marketing systems were: State marketing, free marketing, and producer-con-trolled marketing A further method to fit the kriowin facts of the future was “a Government-producer Co operative .Marketing Council,” which had already been initiated by the industry through the Fruit Marketing Council for war-time and stabilisation demands. Discussing fruitgrowers’ substantial losses this year by hail and frost, Mr Roberts said most hail damaged fruit could now be absorbed and marketed. Export Position Although the new Government in Britain seemed to be one elected essentially by an industrial country, it did not appear that agriculture would suffer or that New Zealand’s export future there would be less promising, said Mr T. C. Brash, president of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, presenting the annual report. He believed that the Labour Government in Britain would seek to maintain a higher standard of living. There was not enough food now in the world, and New Zealand would have an important part in alleviating the position. The annual report said that there had been speculation as to when shipping would be available for the export of apples and pears overseas. It had been learned that during the current season an offer to purchase a nominal quantity of apples for export was received from Britain, and that the offer was not accepted, although no reason was given to growers. It was felt that this offer should have been accepted, even at the expense qf the grower and the public. Rationing in New Zealand was introduced to allow the maximum quantity to be sent overseas. The New Zealand public had been well supplied with apples and pears during the war, and the transfer of a small parcel of this year’s crop to Britain would have been no hardship to consumers. Further, it was hignly- desirable that advantage of export markets be taken as they became available.

Considerable discussion took place on the number of directors the federation should have. It was decided that the number should be six, one each for Auckland, Hawke’s Bay-Wellington, Nelson. Marlborough. Canterbury, and Otago. It was decided that the reduction should not take place for 12 months. It was decided that the payment of directors be increased to £2 10s daily, and transport expenses while travelling and attending directors’ meetings or the annual conference, and that their honoraria be increased to £75 per annum, the president to receive £125. A Redwood’s Valley remit asking that, in view of *he continual increase in the cost of production, prices should be so adjusted as to give the grower a payable price for all his fruit, was approved.

Mr Eden’s Son Presumed Dead,—lt is authoritatively stated that there is no longer any hope of survival of Mr Anthony Eden’s son, Sergeant Simon Eden, who was posted missing after the aircraft in which he was a member of the crew crashed on a mountainside in Burma.—London, August 7.