PEARS AND APPLES

Evening Star, Issue 25068, 8 January 1944, Page 4

PEARS AND APPLES

OTAGO GROWERS REJECT GOVERNMENt OFFER

Meetings of .apple and pear growers were held at Erttrick and Alexandra on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively to consider the Government's offer for the handling of the 1944 season's crop. Both meetings were well attended, and were presided over by Mr F. G. Duncan, member of the Government Advisory Committee. After due consideration had been given- to the Government's proposal both meetings unanimously rejected the offer, and ham sent the following resolutions to the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation :

" That these meetings of growers representing all districts from Cromwell to Beaumont, express their sincere thanks and gratitude to the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation for its untiring effort's on behalf of the industry, particularly in its efforts to secure a price per case equal at least to the costs of production; and that we (the growers) wish to assure it that the growers will not consider any proposal unless first submitted to the federation, and that we will not make any nominations to the committees as suggested in the circular before the meetings, until advised to do 6o by the federation."

" That the federation endeavour to secure an agreement with the Government to purchase the apple and pear crop at last year's schedule prices, including minimum grade, and that the difference between last year's loss of £90.000 and the annual average loss of £169,000 be used to increase the Dominion average up to 6s lid per case, the cost of production, including the latest increase in wages."