One Hawke’s Bay Orchard

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 282, 12 November 1936, Page 6

One Hawke’s Bay Orchard

I Sir, —I wish to put a few facts before '‘Taxpayer” and the public. 1 have 14 acres, full bearing, in apples and pears. This year I expected, before the frost, well over 10,000 cases of fruit. This meant employing 15 and more men for six and more weeks to pick the crop, and five or six more men to grade and pack. This, of course, is saying nothing about case-timber,-nai’s, straw-board, wire, wrapping paper and labour to correspond. I will not enlarge here on the labour for pruning and spraying and cultivating by tractor, transport by lorry, rail and boat and the cool storage and auctioneer.

Now, Sir, since the frost, 1 expect to ge<. perhaps 500 cases, which I can pick myself. This means straight off 20 or more men unemployed for six weeks, to say nothing of the sawmiliei losing an order for 10,000 cases. These are the simple facts, for one medium-sized Hawke’s Bay orchard. Multiply this by the rest of the orchards stricken in Hawke’s Bay and “Taxpayer” will perhaps find an answer to his letter.

Last season’s export prices were below cost in almost every instance and have been so for several years. Without any frost the increased wages would have minimised any chance of a payable return.—Yours, etc., W.Z.P.T. Hustings, Nov. 11, 1936.