FRUIT INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1944, Page 4

FRUIT INDUSTRY

APPLES AND. PEARS

MARKETING AGREEMENT

"Agreement concerning the market*' ing of the apple and pear crop has been reached between the Govern-, ment and the industry through, the New Zealand Fruit Growers' Federation," stated the Minister* of Agriculture and Marketing (Mr. Roberts) today. The Minister said that the i agreement was the result of discussions between the Economic Stabilisation Commission and representatives of the federation, following the submission by the fruit growers of their views in a recent application to the Prime Minister. The main features of the agreement, said the Minister, could be summarised as follows^ —For the 1944 season, growers will be guaranteed . a minimum return based.on last year's purchasing* schedule with a Dominion overall minimum average of 6s a case. Whilst fruit growers' costs are held at present stabilisation levels, State assistance will be fixed at £169,000 annually. The inspection fee hitherto charged by the Government will be eliminated. A premium of 6d a case will be' paid for long terra cool storage fruit, the conditions under which this premium will be paid to be determined by the Fruit Marketing Council. The rates of pay and conditions of employment shall be those provided for in the agreement between 'the New Zealand Fruit Growers' Industrial union of Employers.and the New Zealand Workers' Industrial Union of Workers on December 15, 1943. Out of the £169,000 State assistance, £25,000 wiU.be retained and will be. available for assistance in bringing uneconomic orchards to an economic basis. The retention and use of this amount will be reconsidered at the end of the first year. The full agreement sets out the procedure to be followed concerning, uneconomic pip fruit farms. If any portion of the retained amount is not used for its original purpose it may be used by the Government in agreement with representatives of the industry for assistance in cases of unavoidable natural disaster. No portion of the £25,000 will be available to producers on a per case basis in respect of fruit supplied during the 1943-44 season. Subject to the overall minimum average of'Bs a case, the gross amount to be paid to growers for the 1944 season will be the net proceeds of the sales of apples and pears, plus the fixed State assistance (£169,000, reduced by £25,000 for assistance to uneconomic orchards). The prices to be paid for the varieties of apples and pears will be more nearly related to market values, both local and export, as ascertained from past experience and having regard to districts, varieties, sizes, and grades. FRUIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Provision is made for the appointment of a Fruit Advisory Committee of five members (one from each of the five fruit districts), from which three will be selected by the Government to serve with three Government appointees as a Fruit Marketing Council. In the meantime, however, this Fruit Marketing Council shall comprise four growers' representatives selected from a panel of six names submitted to the Government by the. New Zealand Fruit Growers' Federation. The Government will also appoint four members to the Gouncil, which will then comprise a total of eight members. This composition of the Fruit Marketing Council is temporary, but if it proves to be workable and satisfactory to the Government, and if the growers in annual conference request its continuance, then it may continue in this form., As -long as it does so continue the appointment of the Advisory Committee is held in abeyance. The appointments to the Fruit Marketing Council will be subject to review annually by the Minister of Marketing at the Minister's option. "I am very happy," said the Minister, "that as a result of a deputation to the Prime Minister and subsequent discussions, the misunderstanding which had hindered the satisfactory solution has been removed and modifications—in harmony with, the general scheme —have been made to allay fears which had been express*ed by the industry." The Minister added that he expected to be in. a. position to announce the names of the members of the Fruit Marketing Council in the near future.