APPLE AND PEAR BOARD

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27090, 13 July 1953, Page 10

APPLE AND PEAR BOARD

FRUITGROWERS’ PLEASURE AT SURPLUSES

“The industry is still subjected to occasional criticism from a certain section of the community and in this connexion growers themselves can render a very valuable service to the in-

dustry as a whole by replying to any adverse comment which comes to their notice,” say the president (Mr T. F. A. Archer), the vice-president (Mr J. W. T. Doggett), and the general manager (Mr A. Osborne) in the annual report of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, Ltd.

They said that since the federation’s last report the industry had been informed officially of the surpluses earned by the Apple and Pear Marketing Board in its trading year for 1952, “It must be gratifying to all growers that after the initial difficulties encountered by the board it is capable of showing a profit when trading conditions are favourable. Losses sustained in previous years have been met and those oft-repeated cries of using the taxpayers’ money to offset losses should now have been silenced. “Growers will doubtless derive great satisfaction from the knowledge that the industry is acquiring through the Apple and Pear Marketing Board, assets in the nature of cool stores, assembly depots, and equipment, a position which the industry has reached only after a period of about 40 years,” the report says. “The agency arrangement with the Marketing Department expires at the end of November. After this the board will take full control of the assembly and marketing of its produce. The general manager and other executive staff have already been appointed.”