FRUIT DAMAGE

Evening Star, Issue 22805, 13 November 1937, Page 20

FRUIT DAMAGE

GROWERS SEEK SECURITY SUGGESTED INSURANCE SCHEME Asking that some system should be instituted for the protection of tho fruit industry, a petition signed by the majority of growers in the Ettrick and Beaumont districts has been sent to the Prime Minister (Right Hon. M. J. Savage). The object is to endeavour to emphasise the urgent need of the majority of orchardists in those portions of Central Otago liable to damage through the effects of frost, hail, and wind. The Government has been asked to investigate some form of insurance in order that growers will have security against such a disaster as that experienced this year as a result of the weather conditions. It has also been asked to put in hand the introduction of an irrigation scheme for the Ettrick growers. Irrigation in thisfcdistrict would enable growers there to produce other crops_ when the fruit is destroyed. In explaining a form of insurance, which, he claims, has the support of many growers in parts of Otago, and which will be placed before the Prime Minister, an Ettridk erchardist said :

“ The need for some sort of security is desperately urgent, for, unless prices for crops are very high, no fruitgrower is able to carry through a year ■when, his crop is alrnosfc ruined. Within recent years the prices of fruit have been so low that_ with costs of production steadily increasing no margin is left from year to year. The frost incidence has risen in certain areas during the last six years to such an extent that it appears that the seasons have completely changed. Pnor to 1931 we did not have any damaging frosts, but since then there have been three major visitations. On October 23 this year portions of the Ettrick and Beaumont districts were struck by a frost which caused, in some instances, 70 per cent, to 100 per cent, damage. , ..... “ Not only do such visitations mean the loss of the crop for the year concerned, but the trees themselves receive a setback which encourages fungus disease, and results in higher spraying costs for the next two or three seasons. This year, I have lost not only my stone fruit but many peach and plum trees as well. “ The position is really urgent, hew people outside the industry realise how desperate it is, but unless we have some sort of security in our district we shall have to go out.” The formulated insurance scheme would require the Department of_ Internal Marketing to charge a premium. The growers would nominate the amount of the cover they would require, but that amount would be sufficient only to give them a living and adequate working expenses. In the event of a total loss the whole amount on which the premiums have been paid would be disbursed, less a sum covering that year’s premium, and if the losses were only partial the grower would be allowed the option of marketing his own crop or of handing it over to the department in return for the total amount of cover, the department to market the crop. , The suggestion is made that the scheme should be State controlled, to be subsidised by the Government to the extent of at least tho total now paid out in frost relief. _ If it evenuated, the scheme would include within its scope not only the growers in Central Otago, but those in Nelson, where hail causes losses, and Hawke’s Bay. ETTRICK LOSSES. When questioned regarding the matter, the Government orchard instructor of the Department of Agriculture (Mr G. H. M'lndoe) said he had not completed his investigation to determine the extent of tho fruit losses through frost in the Ettrick area, and would not be able to make a full statement for about two weeks. He agreed that the losses in some instances might be heavy, but fortunately tho entire district was not affected to such a serious extent. In spite of the effects of the visitation, it might be' necessary in some cases to carry out a certain amount of thinning.