The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, November 8, 1939. A THREATENED INDUSTRY.

Grey River Argus, 8 November 1939, Page 6

The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, November 8, 1939. A THREATENED INDUSTRY.

War-time economy hitherto it; this country has been a consideration limited largely, to the requirements of Britain. The plea of our own fruitgrowers, however, for a safeguard against ruin illustrates the necessity for a broader conception of Avar economy. It may therefore be hoped that it brought the fruitgrowers some reassurance last evening Avhen the Minister of Marketing

announced that the Government is now prepared to pay seven shillings per case for exportable apples, and is ready itself to shoulder the risk of finding the means of shipping the fruit or otherwise disposing of it. There is no industry more deserving of conservation, from the national standpoint, than that of fruit, growing. This is indicated by the fact that there are in the do-

minion five thousand full-time orchardists, and a much larger number of employees who are dependent on the orchards for their livelihood. There are, in all, eleven thousand three hundred commercial orchards in New Zealand, but about six thousand of these are less than an acre in extent. It is eminently desirable at any time, but even more than

ever in war time, that as many as possible of the inhabitants of the Dominion shall be enabled to be self-supporting, and that upon meansy of production which belong to them, and arc therefore no charge upon others. The tendency to the elimination of such owners of productive property has been so strongly marked hith - erto that the danger of its acceleration in war time is real where the disposal of the output en-

counters a lessened demand. Tin* British Government has indicated that it will not purchase frui< from the dominions in the same way that it purchases meat, wheat, dairy produce, wool and other commodities. There will be, of course, no check upon the en try of fruit to Britain, but there will not by any means be the same transport facilities made

available when shipping is diverted to the carriage of those commodities which arc subject to Government purchase. New Zealand yearly grows between three and three and a half million boxes of fruit mainly apples, and rather less than half of this quantity is normally consumed by the dominion market. The latest offer of the Government to pay seven shillings per case f.o.b. representing a rise on an earlier offer which the growers considered inadequate, would presumably ap ply to a quantity similar to that exported in a normal year. In addition, if the Government is given control, it will be prepared to handle sales in New Zealand, in addition, to taking its chance, with the marketing of such, a quantity as it may be able to transport overseas. The fruit in dustry has been more beset with problems than most others, including that of marketing, but these had been gradually solved until the war threatened a worse problem than any going before. Much of the orchard areas consists of land’ unsuited for other uses, and if the cultivators are not enabled to tide over this difficulty, such country might mostly lapse into disuse. Those whom, it has been supporting would require to be maintained inj some other manner, and this would probably involve the

State in an outlay exceeding what amount may now be necessary to ensure a payable price for the crop. Other producers obtain guarantees. This is now true alike of meat, wool, dairy and grain producers. IfAhe fruit industry is not to suffer a great set back, it also must obtain something of a guarantee. It is believed, of course, that apart from export and sales by retail in New Zealand, there are _ other uses to which the fruit can be put. In Australia the Government is go ing to handle the fruit crop to a great extent and intends that the poorer people shall consequently have a greater supply than they usually enjoy. It is stated that already, in view of the uncertainty prevalent, the .. credit of fruitgrowers in Nelson and other areas is contracting, while there is a tendency to reduce output and employment, in the industry. It will be helpful if the public can be persuaded to purchase fruit by the case, as the consumer as well as the vendor will be a gainer thereby, but the retailer has to be considered, and it is here that the State is expected by the industry to play a part on the financial side by way of a guarantee. Certainly if a guarantee is available to assure, cheap fruit for oversea people, it cannot be an injustice to assure cheap fruit likewise for New Zealand users. There is need, no doubt, for expert handling of the whole problem, and the primary object, is to augment the consumption of what is the finest of food. It ought to be remembered that the reason ‘ why special treatment is sough simply is the fact that the fruitgrowers are put to a Avar sacrifice in being deprived of their oversea market, since, it is purely on account of the war that they are prevented from placing their product on the oversea market. That sacrifice, like others should be reasonably distributed.