FRUIT INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 58, 18 September 1928, Page 18

FRUIT INDUSTRY

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Your correspondent on the above subject is very anxious to put before the public:, the true facts regarding this industry. Ho is most careful in pointing out what the Government guarantee of 11s per case means. It leaves the grower 9d per case, which is to pay for manuring, spraying, cultivating, and sundry other charges—including interest on capital. .At the recent election held in Nelson, both Mr. Dicker and Mr. Gilbert were advocates for f.o.b. rales. As this, in the correspondent's eyes, is against the control's policy, 1 do not understand how he can bring Mr. Dicker under the heading of "pro-control." Mr. Dicker therefore becomes an "anti-control" man, thus making the votes as follows: —T. C Brash (pro-control) 120, J. Dicker 03, and A. Gilbert 7i> (anti-control), leaving a majority of 10 votes for "anti-control. ' F. 0.8. offers were made last year for 8s per ease for good grade, and 0s for fancy grade, and on looking at your correspondent's figures, tliis would have left 2s (id and 3s (id per case respectively to pay for manuring, spraying, cultivating, and other charges, instead of the Od ho.would get under the guarantee. 1 cannot understand, in the face of this, why any man should be compelled to gamble in his fruit instead of being able to take what would give him an adequate return. The only reason I can assume is that us under the guarantee ho can get no less than 9d the Control Board would prefer to gamble in his fruit and let the taxpayer carry the burden should it not reach the ■guarantee. It will bo remembered that the year before last it cost the country £90,000, equal to Is (id per head foe the population of New Zealand and although the grower has made so much fuss about shipping the millionth ease this year, it seems highly probable that the taxpayer will again have to come to the j assistance through the guarantee No doubt now that the facts arc bofore the public, people will begin to wonder why it is that N/;w Zealand can have a record season and yet the grower cannot make it pay. Perhaps your correspondent cau answer that. Had the members of the Control Board exterminated the microbe of absolutism, and concentrated all their efforts on the growers' production aud transport charges by way of more direct loadings at Nelson, etc. (where they can save approximately Sd per case —instead of some of the members spending their time in England) they would have acted in an orthodox manner and the guarantee would not be begrudged, whereas now they have seriously endangered the South American market and notwithstanding their efforts in Kugland, brokers arc asking an increase in commission. Your correspondent's remarks iii reference to the Finance Act are also enlightening. He asks why should the growci have to pay for those who default through ■going bankrupt. -As the federation is purely a growers' concern, we trust that, should they lose > money through other growers going bankrupt, they will not endeavour to ask the taxpayers to foot the bill for them.—l am, etc., r'UKK MARKETER. Wellington. 14th September.