FRUIT QUOTAS NEXT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 92, 16 October 1934, Page 12

FRUIT QUOTAS NEXT

BRITISH GROWERS' ACTION

(From "The Post's" Representative.) • LONDON, September 13. It is expected that the National Farmers' Union will shortly place before the Ministry of Agriculture draft proposals for a marketing scheme for fruit. The N.F.U. has long contended that the home fruit grower has been placed in a parlous position by the uncontrolled dumping of imported fruit, particularly in the ease ot fruit used for canning arid jam manufacture. A deputation of growers has conferred with the fruit sub-committee of the National Fanners' Union, when certain tentative proposals were put forward. It was suggested mat the fruit scheme should work on the lines of the present bacon scheme. As a result of that meeting, the sub-committee invited a deputation from the trade organisations to discuss the position at the headquarters of the N.F.U. It is stated that the trade representatives adopted a sympathetic attitude towards the growers' proposals, and it was agreed that a fixed minimum price for most classes of fruit, and particularly for soft fruits, was essential. The committee then conferred with the jam manufacturers' and canners' group of the Food Manufacturers' Association, and it is reported that the canners were not averse to minimum prices. On the other hand, they suggested a contract scheme for fruit supplied to them on the lines of that operating between the pig producers and the bacon curers. The growers could not agree to this suggestion on the grounds that the incidence of disease, inclement weather, and other unforeseen factors might interfere seriously with crops. Certain suggestions put forward by the canners were noted for inclusion in a draft scheme now being prepared by the committee for submission to the council of the National Farmers' Union. The control of imports by means of quotas is one of the suggestions to be included. If the council approve the scheme, it will be submitted to the Minister of Agriculture, who, of course, provided he is satisfied as to the urgency of the matter, can bring it into effect under the terms of the Agricultural Marketing Act. The sponsors of the scheme hope to see it in operation by the end of 1935.