Israeli Fruit Farmers Touring New Zealand

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 10

Israeli Fruit Farmers Touring New Zealand

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND. April 27. New Zealand fruit farmers may have their problems—codlin moth, the climate, virus diseases, and so on—but at least they do not have to put up with spasmodic rifle fire from snipers, and armed guerrilla raids at regular intervals. But in Israel, on the Arab border, the farmer must be prepared for anything—from bullets, down. Three Israeli pip-fruit farmers who are touring New Zealand described the hazards of farming in their country during a visit to the Fruit Research Station at Mount Albert. One of them, Mr H. Jaeger, who farms right on the bor-

der with Syria, said that although things had “quietened down” from the almost open warfare of a few years ago, his orchards were still sniped at frequently. The- other two men. Messrs J Crafin and A. Zur. are both directors of the Israel Fruit Growers' Association. They are both managers of the fruit sections of collective farms further away from the border. The three men have been studying New Zealand fruit farming and handling techniques under the guidance of the New Zealand Fruit Growers' Federation. They hope, from what they have learnt here, to improve the industry in Israel, where the costs of production are at least

twice as high as in New Zealand.