PACKING INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 141, 12 December 1923, Page 5

PACKING INDUSTRY

A COMPANY'S DIFFICULTIES.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL 10.THE POST.)

DUNEDIN, Thi ß Day. The directors of the Pacific Preserving Company, Ltd., state in their annual report that the year ended 2Cth September last, was one of unusual difficulty for the preserving industry, and could not but result in considerable loss to the company. Regarding -the canned fruit branch, the dumping of Californian and Australian fruits which took place> notwithstanding vigorous protests to the Government from both growers and canners, caused reductions in selling prices which meant a very heavy loss to New Zealand packers. "In this connection it may not be out of place to remark," the directors say, "that but scant inducement -is given to secondary industries such as that which comprises the activities of the company, and the loss which must result to the community owing to the lack of proper measures for protection and fostering of businesses dealing with primary products of the country is regrettable. With reference to the manufacture and sale of. jam, it was necessary, to report that the cheap and plentiful supply of fruit last summer enabled private stocks of jam to be put up, and that this resulted in a reduced sale of this product; The sum of £3252 had, after careful consideration, been written off stock plant, old labels, and building. This sum included an item of £1300 represented by three-year-old fruit pulp found to be unfit for use, and which had to be destroyed. The disabilities of carrying on under these conditions had received the careful consideration of the directors, and they felt that in the interest of all concerned, the best course was to sell the whole of the company's undertaking and assets to a new company, to be formed, under the same name as the present company, and they had accordingly entered into an agreement to that effect.