Citrus Growers On Saving Of Funds

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 12

Citrus Growers On Saving Of Funds

(N.Z. Press Association) WHANGAREI, May 18 New Zealand citrus growers consider that the time has arrived when the capacity of their industry to help with the conservation of overseas funds should be officially recognised. The 38 growers who attended the annual meeting of the Kerikeri Citrus and Sub-tropica! F ruitgrowers’ Society were unanimous that this was of special importance, considering the position of New Zealand’s overseas exchange. In a statement released from the meeting, the president (Mr R. G. McDiarmid) said that, because of a complex marketing system and lack of incentive to growers to produce good-quality fruit, much of the local lemon crop failed to reach the consuming public. This resulted in a high retail price from, fruit which could be greatly improved in quality. •> Lemon growers believed

that, if properly directed, the local industry could meet the reasonable requirements of the country by making more of the abundant stocks of lemon juice available when fresh fruit was in short supply. Mr McDiarmid said. This would avoid the present expenditure of large sums each year on imported lemons. If more lemon juice could bb sold to the public, he said, fewer lemons would have to be dumped on account of skin blemish. For many years, thousands of cases of local grapefruit had wasted, largely because of imports of fresh fruit, marmalade and pulp. Fortunately, some manufacturers recognised the ability of the local grapefruit industry to meet their needs. Mr McDiarmid said. It was now recognised by the trade that new varieties of New Zealand oranges now coming into production were superior to imported oranges. With intelligent direction and encouragement, the local orange industry, together with the Cook Islands industry, could ultimately supply the consumer throughout ihe year, Mr McDiarmid said. The industry recognised that

any thick-skinned or juiceless oranges had to be eliminated. Mr McDiarmid said that since the local citrus industry could contribute to the saving of overseas funds, it was difficult to understand how import licences were so freely granted when some of the fruit imported was not necessary, and when the overseas funds expended could be used to better advantage. Mr McDiarmid said, however, that local producers did not want the public to go without essential fruit that the country could afford to buy from overseas.