Plight of fruitgrowers

Press, 13 November 1985, Page 32

Plight of fruitgrowers

PA Tauranga Fruitgrowers have been urged to mobilise their resources to let the Minister of Finance, Mr Douglas, know their plight because of the Government’s high interest rate policies. Mr Bruce Townshend, National member of Parliament for Kaimai, said failure to do this and achieve economic policy changes would “decimate” orchardists.

“Not only will security of families disappear, but future confidence in the industry will languish,” he said. “Neither the industry nor the country can afford the loss of the risk-takers and entrepreneurs on the land. “New Zealand’s future prosperity is still tied to land and farming. New industries, tourism and diversification will all add to our earnings, but to let our

major export sector fail spells our own peril.” Mr Townshend said the number of orchardists and farmers at risk of losing their properties was alarming. Land-based producers had been “done” by the Government through the introduction of part of Federated Farmers policies to remove all subsidies.