FRUIT INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 135, 5 December 1933, Page 4

FRUIT INDUSTRY

VISIT TO NELSON

SYMPATHETIC MINISTER

RESPONSE TO REQUESTS

(Special to < the "Evening Post.")

NELSON, December 4,

On Saturday the Hon C.1 E. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture, visited tho fruit-growing areas. At, a ropresentativo meeting of orchardists at Stoke tho, ■ Minister.', was] asked for Government assistance to growers whose crops had been completely destroyed or damaged by frost and at.a large meeting at Mapua the critical state of the industry, was stressed and Government assistance sought. to keep growers oil their orchards. The matter of the Government .guarantee ou export fruit was also discussed. . Eeplying at the' Stoke meeting the Minister said it was the duty of the Government to give assistance in such circumstances as frost damage., and he was pretty safe in .saying that'it would be forthcoming. Perhaps Jiot to the extent that everyone would like. "If you are as' reasonable as. your'statements, I don't think.there will be any cause for complaint,'"1 udde.d ( the Minister. . ■.'. , ■■'.'.' ":.* ''.: ■ Ho want onto say that a, precedent had been established in- assisting settlers some.years ago at Eaetihi when lire overtook t,he,iU:,and the Minister also referred to other instances since when the Government had come to the assistance of people who were overtaken by disaster^ In connection with the damage in Central' Otago by frost, he had authority to make an investigation, and assistance would naturally follow. "You can rest safely assured that proper investigation will bo made into your-case, and so far as assistance can be, given, it will be given," continued Mr. Maemillan. As to tho renewal of tho Government guarantee, tho1 Minister said that to a great extent the Government was a partner in the industry by reason of the guarantee, and it would be foolish after giving it for a period of years and building up the industry to let it drop. Everybody must realise that when a matter of. this sort occurred it could be looked upon as a visitation from Providence. MEETING AT MAPUA. At the Mapua meeting the Minister said he hoped ho would not .disappoint those present. ■ He had' come over; hurriedly, and he could, not give a Government pronouncement, but only express his own views and tell them as far as ho had seen his own individual view. Ho thanked, them for the welcome extended to .li'im. AVliile at school ho had learnt a Latin proverb, "ito gives twice who gives quick-:1 ly," and he tried to follow it out.1 The Minister went on to say that Mr. Holyoako had been very insistent on; tho "growers' and ho told him, it was impossible for Cabinet to give an answer rega-rding matters brought before him at an earlier date1 as a very largo problem was being dealt with at the time —the Eeservo Bank Bill. ■; Mention was made of the raspberry subsidy giv.en last, year, and the satisfactory returns from the Home market.' "I have been more than pleased with! tho way you are facing up to your; difficulties," continued Mr. Maemillan.; "Most of your argument lias been regarding the guarantee. I have been interested in your problems because I! think it is my job, and one of tho things that struck me when I took office was that of extending the markets." He went on to trace the negotiations with America for a trade treaty and the successful outcome thereof, and the Australian embargo on: fruit. Ho had been told that there was a market in America for the large-; sized apples. ■He did not know whether there was or not, but he had sent Mr. Campbell (Director of Horticulture) to the States to make inquiries. There might' be nothing in it, but he was satisfied, that the fow hundred pounds it would cost would; be well worth while.. He went on to! say that he understood there wero^ £40,000 in the Argentine to the credit of growers, and1 he was making in-: quiries with a view to making it available to the growers concerned. In: apito of what Mr. Atmoro had said regrading the decreased spending powers! of the people at Home, the Minister said it was a recognised fact that 300,000,000 Central Europe were on a higher standard of living than; they were before, and this must re-! fleet on a primary, producing countrylike New Zealand. That was the best; indication to his mind that the tide j had commenced coming in. ■ ; Eegarding representations made as to the American dollar, the Minister; said the Government had the matter! under review, as was indicated in the House recently in reply to a question; The Government was watching the position, but he could not tell them what action would be taken. THE GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE. As to the'continuation of the gnaran-i tee, he wanted,to say straight out that he was sympathetic. The National Expenditure Commission's report had asked.that all guarantees be out out. But tho National Expenditure report; was not going to stampede him or the Government. When.the country realised that the Government was only giving effect to the portions of tho report; that were considered'wise, then others came into the matter 'and resolutions were passed by organisations, including, he believed, tlio Associated Chambers of Commerce. . ' ' r