FRUIT LOST IN STRIKE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26477, 19 July 1951, Page 8

FRUIT LOST IN STRIKE

MARLBOROUGH AND NELSON AREAS “ECONOMY OF DISTRICT AFFECTED ” (New Zealand Press Association) NELSON. July 18. The wastage of about 600,000 cases of apples and pears in Neison and Marlborough because of the waterfront strike had affected the economy of the whole area, said Mr T. F. A Archer, president of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, speaking at the annual Nelson provincial conference of the federation this morning. Big prices had been available for fruit on overseas markets, but only about 600,000 cases were exported, compared with the target of more than 1,000,000 cases.

"There is no need for me to tell Nelson growers of the difficulties, disappointments and financial loss they have had to face because of the waterfront strike,” said Mr Archer. “It is well known that Nelson and Marlborough growers had to pick about 600,000 cases of apples and pears on to the ground. What is not so well known, however, is that the bulk of that fruit, if landed on the markets for which it was intended, would have brought from 55s to 60s a case. The loss affects not only growers but the whole district.” Mr Archer said that in the first two years of marketing under the present scheme a debit had been built up in the fruit industry account. If it had been possible for the Apple and Pear Marketing Board to have sold all the available fruit last season and make 8d a case profit, the debit would have disappeared. “I am quite sure that if we had had a normal season we would now have a credit balance in the acccunt instead of a debit,” he said. The only bright spot about the last season had been the three direct loading® of export fruit at Nelson. The thanks of the industry were due to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) and all others who had assisted in arranging the shipments.