11/-A CASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 17 December 1937, Page 2

11/-A CASE

GUARANTEED FOR EXPORT FRUIT DOES NOT COVER COST OF PRODUCTION I HEAVY CROP THIS SEASON I i The Government has approved of a fruit export guarantee of 11s a case, in New Zealand currency, for apples and pears, based on the wages according to last year’s schedule. “Taking everything into consideration,” said Mr R. Carlyon, Shipping Supervisor, to-day, “this should prove satisfactory to the growers though it does not cover production and growing costs. Also, it does not make any allowance for local market fruit.” The guarantee last year was 10s 6d a case. It is anticipated that an early decision will be reached with regard to the assistance to be granted as a result of the increased labour charges on last season’s local market fruit; and that the decision will be a satisfactory one for the growers. CROP PROSPECTS The prospects are for a heavy crop in the Nelson district this year, but it is early yet to forecast that it will reach the record of over a million cases exported in 1934. All the orchards are looking well and carrying clean crops which will facilitate the work in the packing season. There are some particularly fine crops of Cox Orange and the export of this variety at least should be a record. The first overseas vessel for export fruit will be the Port Taranaki, loading from 4th—-9th February, and taking 13.500 cases, of which Nelson will supply 10.000. The bulk of these will be Gravensteins. DIRECT LOADING With reference to direct loading the Shipping Supervisor said that it was the policy of the Fruit Board to ship as much fruit as possible from the ports i where it is produced provided facilities are available and the final departure from New Zealand is not unduly delayed. If suitable boats are available to work Nelson as a semi-final port it is expected that a record quantity will be shipped direct this season. EXPORT ARRANGEMENTS QUANTITY ESTIMATED AT 1.250,000 y AUCKLAND, 16th December. | Referring to the decision to pay a ! guarantee of 11s a case, Mr F. Firth, j Auckland representative of the New' Zealand Fruit Export Control Board said the scheme would apply to fruit exported from the Dominion in the coming season, and it w’as estimated that the quantity would be close on 1,250,000 cases. “Arrangements are being made by the board to export to the United Kingdom, Canada, Rio de Santos. Jamaica, and such continental countries as it is possible to supply,” Mr Firth stated. “After my recent visit to the East I might also say that the way has been paved to make shipments to Java, Singapore. Hong-Kong and other Eastern centres. There is no doubt of a payable market in the East and the quantity of fruit that can be dispatched is limited only by the amount of refrigerated shipping space that is available.” NOT A NEW SCHEME Mr Firth said it was commonly supposed that the fruit-grower w'as making a good thing out of the guarantee, but, in point of fact, it did not cover the costs of production under the present labour conditions It merely ensured that the producer would not suffer any serious loss, and he might be able to get some small return over and above the guarantee. The scheme was by no means a new proposition, and had been in operation for at least ten years, proving particularly valuable in the development of new markets. Discussing the question of the grant of £40,000 made by the Government to assist growers in meeting increased aw'ard wages, Mr Firth explained that methods of distribution had not been finally decided. The proposals, however, had by no means been lost sight of, and help was going to be given growers w'ho had actually paid higher rates of wages.