THE FRUIT GUARANTEE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 149, 21 December 1936, Page 12

THE FRUIT GUARANTEE

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —"Apples" is; correct-when he writes that the State guarantee up to 10s 6d per case, but why omit _the Vital facts? He, knows that 5s to 6s of his amount is guaranteed to shipping companies, harbour boards, insurance offices, etc., the grower never sees, this money, and the remainder is well pencilled in orchard expenses. He must also know that the figure of 10s 6d_ is the very highest, it is more often'at 9s but even at 10s 6d the grower barely pays expenses. It has only cost the Government in past years an average of Id per case, but anyone reading your correspondent's letter would never come to that conclusion. He states the gross figures, but I am. quoting the net amount, which is the fair position. The Government would not have been approached by the delegates of the last fruit growers' conference requesting a payable guarantee if the orchardists were solvent. "Apples" knows this, and instead of accusing me of clouding the issue, I would be more justified in attributing this to him. ■

I have tried, to place before the public, Sir, the essential points of the industry, and I challenge your correspondent to contradict my previous statement, reiterated here, that the majority of fruit growers throughout the country have shown a loss over a long period of years.—l am, etc., : E.M.