N.Z. FRUIT PRICES

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1937, Page 10

N.Z. FRUIT PRICES

govt. subsidy KLAN. /• z . [ FEB PEESB . WELLINGTON,. 17. If the price for fruit on the New Zealand market falls below Qeonomic level fruit growers will iclcdg a subsidy, a sum of £ IO.OOU liann e been set' aside to meet, possible contingencies on intorpal Hjk. announcement was' made bj the Jim ister for Labour, Hou. 11. 1. Armstrong to-day. . • . . .■ . • An industrial agreement covenn s workers in the fruit industry has been completed,'-after a series of- conferences between the Minister and i epi e sentatives Qf ; the New :Zeaiami TTiiinh. The wages agreed upon

are an advance on those. pain pi e' iousiy* arid the Government promised ,o help growers if prices tor pioduce fall below a level which will give them a reasonable retui;n. Mr Armstrong stated to-day that., the expoit guarantee which is contingent on prices realised overseas would be paid 6 n 'locally-consumed fruit in the event <?V the price falling nOinic level. An amount ot . liad been set asid-e: to, meet possible contingencies on internal prices. . “I" Want to make it clear, said. Mr. Armstrong, “that thisfis nQ| a. straightout subsidy. If the, growers receive a good price they will not lift, helped. We are simply, ensuring that they will be reasonably remunerated for their ptforts. We believe, that everyone who, gives service is entitled to a, fair return;:- The agreepient is nob. everything that the New Zealand Workers Union desires, but it puts the w.orkers of the industry in a better- position than, they Haye been before. The agreement' is to .operate .only .until September 30, and it. chn then be ievised. The agreement also: With the weekly rates of wages- f pi‘ youths, the payment of casual seasonal woikfer's; the rates f or?, who?? Will, be .1/8 an hour for adult male workers, an' hour for female workers,. I-/- an hour 'for youths; and girls .up to 18 years, and 1/2 am hour for those between 18' and 21 years. Provision is also made for the. opservance of status tory-holidays.” ■