FRUIT GROWING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 June 1928, Page 11

FRUIT GROWING.

PROSPECTS OF THE INDUSTRY

STABILISATION OF PRICE

(By Telegrapn —Press Association.) WELLINGTON. June 13. I n moving the adoption of the report to the annual conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation, the president, Mr Brash, said that they had mason for gratification in the fact that fruit was steadily growing; in popularity as a. necessary food product. Even in New Zealand, this was notice able, while in the United States- the consumption of -apples was approximately 206 per head per annum. In England it was 100. He did not think the. point of saturation had been reached in the British market. The growing sentiment' of trade within the Emupi-re was- m New Zealand’s favour. The lncliuistry owed a. great deaf to the- Empire Marketing Committee and the Rt. Hen. L. C. M. S. Amery’s interest. In 1924, the only vear far which they had fy>;nres ’ approximately £48,300,000 was paid by Great Britain loir imported fruit. ‘Of this £38,500,000 went to countries outside the Empire. Jn connection with apples alone, the market had bpen disappointing. let he felt that, they must prepare themselves to face a stabilised 1 market around) the figures ruling this season. Whether or 1 not they could reduce the costs, it was difficult to say, but the gross average price of about- 12>si (id, ho believed, was likely to lie- the figure ol the .stabilised market-. Shipping had b?cn very satisfactory, and -shipping companies had met- the- position very fairly. , „ , ~ Mr Brash commented favorably regarding research work and other matters affecting the o-rcliardiist. GBVF.RNMENT~HELP justified. WELLINGTON, June 13. Addressing the Fruitgrowers’ Conference, which opened to-day, the Hon. (J. J. Hawken (Minister of Agriculture) said the Government help had been justified, but he hoped that as time went on the industry would he able to do without that help. He felt that small fruits had not realised that mark which they could in supplying the local demand. . With regard to fruit diseases, the Department of Agriculture was doing its best to -help the growers. He expressed the opinion that theie ivas an opening for the canning of pears m New Zealand. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of four retiring directors, Messrs Brasil, Robertson, Toroae and’Tate was confirmed. . Remits were adopted affiliating small fruitgrowers and the Tomato Growers Association.