PIP FRUITS

Evening Star, Issue 23492, 5 February 1940, Page 6

PIP FRUITS

GOVERNMENT CONTROL FROM TO-DAY HEAVY YIELD TO BE DISPOSED OF ASSEMBLY DEPOTS ESTABLISHED From to-day the Government begins the purchase of all apples and pears grown in the Dominion. It is estimated by the Department of Agriculture that between two and a-half and three million bushelcases of fruit will be available for disposal, and the Internal Division of the Marketing Department is confronted by a problem of no small proportions in selling this crop to the New Zealand public. In 1938 there was a bumper crop and slump prices prevailed, yet in that year less than 2,000,000 cases ot apples and pears were consumed within the Dominion. Practically all of this season’s yield will have to be sold internally, due to the heavy restrictions of shipping space, which will reduce export to a minimum. A circular issued by the Marketing Department to growers of apples and pears states that the emergency conditions now in evidence have influenced the Government in acceding to the industry’s request for marketing control, this notwithstanding the fact that the Government was fully aware of ho dangers in assuming control before ample cool storage was available to cope adequately with the great volume of fruit to be received during March, April, and May, for which an. export outlet is extremely unlikely. The Government hopes that the assumption of control will assist growers to escape tho full rigours of tho emergency conditions, and that they and Hie department will co-operate for the common welfare. Assembly depots for tho arranging of the marketing of pip fruits have been established throughout the country. The actual marketing arrangements will be under the control of the department, but the assembly work has been entrusted to branch managers of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, and inspection of the fruit will be carried on by officers of the Department of Agriculture. In Otago assembly depots have been established at Alexandra, where Alexandra and Cromwell fruit will be received, and at Dunedin for fruit from Roxburgh and adjacent districts. The Dunedin assembly depot is situated in the old wool store in Cumberland street formerly owned by Donald Reid and Company Ltd. The department will give every encouragement to stimulate direct trade and may itself operate in this direction. Growers may sell direct to consumers providing that the fruit sold complies with general grading and the price charged is not below that fixed by the department.' The department defines a consumer as one who purchases for his own consumption or that of his family or friends, and does not resell or use for commercial purposes. Consumer sales must bear the inspection levy stamp.