APPLE EXPORT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 25 January 1934, Page 3

APPLE EXPORT

POSITION IN OTA(iO REQUEST TO PRIME MINISTER [By Telegraph—Press Association] DUNEDIN, 23«1 January. A request that Otago orchardists, who .lost £20,000 oil their apple export last year, should be placed on the same basis as the other fruit growers of New Zealand, was made to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Eorbes) to-day at Roxburgh by representatives of the Fruitgrowers’ Association. It was stated that through Otago fruit being placed in cool store in London to beuelit the rest of the New Zealand crop, heavy losses had been sustained on the Otago crops. Between fifty and sixty growers had lost approximately £20,000 one man having to pay out £7OOO on account of his losses on pxport. Due to a. modified guarantee, allotted to the Otago growers who bad lost, they would only get a subsidy of 6d or 9d a case, as was paid to the Fruit Board, whereas losses were up to 4s a case. Growers also drew attention to the fact that the Tariff Commission had been informed that apricot growing was not a commercial proposition in New Zealand, whereas the value of last year’s apricot crop was £67,100, the acreage being 3000 and the crop 137,200 bushels. Speakers asked that no change should be made i'll the tariff on canned goods, as. canneries enabled industry to con tinue. Mr Forbes promised to discuss the subject with tlie Minister of Agriculture. He pointed out that the slump in the London market had upset all calculations. The representation . regarding the tariff would be kept in mind when - the Tariff Commission reported. The Prime Minister was given a civic recoption at Roxburgh by the Mayor (?vlr F. A. Lalolj), and he later met fruit growers regarding frost damage, lie gave a promise to help, similar to that given at Clyde.

WARM WELCOMES INVERCARGILL, 23rd January. Continuing his South Island tour, the Prime .Minister, accompanied by Mrs Forbes, and his son, Mr Robert Forbes, arrived in Invercargill to-night, having travelled from Alexandra. Stops wore made at Roxburgh, Ettfick, Miller’s Flat, Tapanui, and Gore, where warm welcomes were given to the Prime Minister by large assemblages of residents.

In each case the Prime Minister briefly addressed residents, and in several instances he was frrewelUii with cheers. .Many deputations cojiecrning mining and ffiuit growing were received, Mr Forbes repeating his promise to fruit growers that those wdiose crops had been wiped out by frost and were not in a position to carry oil would receive Government assistance in the shape of advances.