Pip Fruit Crop Not Big Enough

Northern Advocate, 12 August 1948, Page 4

Pip Fruit Crop Not Big Enough

WELLINGTON, Wed. (P.A.) Particularly because the numbers of apple and pqar trees in registered orchards have .been declining in recent years and the crop was insufficient for local demands and a revival of export trade, allowance should be made not merely to maintain the industry at its present production, but to promote its orderly expansion.

Emphasis was placed on this point in a report considered at. today’s annual conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation. The report was presented by Messrs A. M. W. Gi'eig, H. R. Sampson and P. W. Smallfield, who were appointed as members of the cost committee by the joint apple and pear marketing committee to undertake a survey.

The report said the natural rate of increase in the population of New Zealand was estimated at 25,000 a year and immigration might add 5000. Assuming that 30,000 people consumed pip fruit on the same level as the existing population, a further 1.500,000 lbs of fruit would be required, involving annually an additional 37,500 bushels, or produce from 125 acres.

The committee considered that the costs established in the survey by the rural development division of the Department of Agriculture, should be used as a basis for establishing a Dominion standard cost.

Si'ors® Fruit 1 Prices WELLINGTON, Thu. (P.A.)—Ceiling prices on stone fruits were criticised at the annual conference of the New 7 ■ -I F’-uitgrowers' Federation in ingfbn yesterday. Remits recommending that the ceilings lit- abolished were approved. i’ v.v- also decided that in the event of ihe ceiiings being retained an in-v-'a.'e in price should be allowed to eor.ii.-c use to for the rising costs of production and the effect of the removal of subsidies on cases and fertilisers. It was suggested that gate sales of ■’unit continue at full retail prices. The importation of stone fruit was strongly opposed because of the danger of importing pests into the Dominion.