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MARKETING FRUIT

GROWERS-IN CONFERENCE BETTER ORGANISATION NEEDED The annual conference, of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation was opened by the Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister of Agriculture, in the Farmers' Institute Buildings this morning. Mr. J. Longton (Piesident) was in the chair. - " MOST IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL STAGE." Addressing the conference, the Minister said tho fruit industry had now reached its most important and critical stagy. There were now tome 37,000 acres of commercial orchards in the Dominion, and comparatively large- areas in addition to tiie total mentioned uero gradually coming into bearing. Hence the question of a much-improved marketing organisation, both for the local and th<; export trades, had become a, matter demanding the most careful consideration. Hu fully appreciated the importance of j the fruit industry to the country, it'being an excellent form of intensive culture. Ho appreciated ulsu the fact that I mnriy acres of otherwise useless land had been' brought into a stills of productivity by this reason, and further that, based" on reasonable market values, fruitgrowing, acre for acre, ought to eompar-Y more than favourably with iiiiy other form of agriculture. From j the point of view of production. ; fruit-growing in New Zealand was, no doubt, quite-, a- sound proposition, but reasonable market values formed the crux of the'whole position. The fruitindustry had not yet reached the stage to ensure a- reasonable return 'for the commodity produced, but, the industry was still young, and lie-was strongly of opinion that the time had arrived when a thorough investigation of prospects and possibilitie^sliould be made. There ffiVC three channels available- for the disposal' of the fruit crop, namely, export, local fresh fruit 'markets, and by-products such as canning, jam-making, ami evaporation. Tjnfortunate'iy, just at present the' prospects of establishing a- successful export trade in fruit wore not nearly so bright as tbev were several yeans ago. The South American-market was lost to them lor a time at least, while the Kuro-pea-n markets were not only tar distant, but all costs relative to export, including shipping rates, had very materially inci'flaseii. thus reducing the probable margin of profit. However, they would htvYe something more definite to go on a little later as to the value of the European market, as a result of the shipments a.l- ---| ready sent forward. Canning and .iam- | making and other by-products, in. view of the high cost of labour, fruit, sugar, etc., now. obtaining-in America, suggested far | greater possibilities, particularly when considered as- an adjunct- to the freshfruit trade, than had' ever been made in the past; but to succeed in this direction the introduction of the latest canning : and jam-making methods and machinery, wag essential. To his mind, however, the fruit-growers' greatest immediate hope still lay in .the proper development of the local fresh fruit markets, and theve was every evidence that this could be done, possibly to the extent of utilising at, profitable prices the product of the wliole of the existing orchard?., provided there was" sufficient organisation. NEED FOR BETTER. DISTRIBUTION. . It was generally recognised,' said ths Minister, that, despite the heavy crops produced, the major portion of the people of -the Dominion consumed infinitely less than they otherwise would do were thay able to readily procure' fupplies of fruit at a reasonable price. They must realise that there must be something requiring marked improvement in the present fruit distribution system which allowed this state of affairs to exist, acd, further, that a system which demanded hi^.i prices whilst returning to the-producer a meagre profit, and in S'tnue cases no profit at all, should not bo tolerated longer than necessity demanded. He sincerely hoped the conference would arrive si, ;i solution. Past attempts to organise, the industry, in which the Government was financially interested to the extent of £84,250,. had effected improvements; but still better j organisation war, required, having for its object, the ready disposal of the fruit crop at reasonable prices to grower and consumer alike. He offered the personal j services of officer;- of the. Department to assist them in establishing'such-an organisation shoi'.ld (hey ds'sire it. (Applause.) MOST ABUNDANT SEASON FOE YEARS. ' Tho Chairman, in reviewing the interval since the holding of last conference, said he was glad to be able to state that the prospects in Auckland and Otago were now much better. The co-operative organisations which had been started promised well for the future of the industry. They now had between 3000 and 400 C commercial growers linked up with the federation. He hoped that with still better organisation' they would be able to bring about lower prices to tho consumer and better returns to the grower. . The present season had been, the most abundant for many years. They were now making arrangements with the .Government for supply of sugar for jammaking for next season. They had a definite promise also that they would be able to ship to South America between December and April next. The annual . report and balance^heet were, adopted, and a vote of thanks was accorded to .the manager and executive for the way in which they had managed the affairs of the federation during the past yeur. > (Proceeding.)

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19200526.2.14

Bibliographic details

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 124, 26 May 1920, Page 2

Word Count
856

MARKETING FRUIT Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 124, 26 May 1920, Page 2

MARKETING FRUIT Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 124, 26 May 1920, Page 2

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