APPLE INDUSTRY CRISIS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 28 February 1939, Page 6

APPLE INDUSTRY CRISIS

ITo The Editor 1 —Many of your readers will remem. her the Imperial Conference held at Ottawa some few years ago. One of the conclusions arrived at which vitally affects the primary industries and no less that ot our own is viz:—Production was not the trouble with the world to-day but faulty distribution. '1 he Government of the day under the Premiership of Mr Gordon Coates, lost id time in taking effective steps to remedy this situation in New Zealand by setting up an Industrial Efficiency Board. When the present Government was returned to power, this board, of course, came under the control of the present Government, and we now have some of the most efficient accountants and industrial business men of the Dominion, who advise the Government on every conceivable subject requiring attention. As a grower of 25 years standing in (he industry and one, amongst many, who has shared its trials and tribulations, its joys and its sorrows, I have always visualised that the time would come when wn were able to have compulsory standardisation and orderly marketing through, out. New Zealand. At one time 1 thought this was possible through our own organisation but after many attempts and failures, and, after perusing the report of the commission set up by the Government some three years ago (evidence being taken from the North Cape to the Bluff) I reluctantly came to the conclusion that the job was too big for our organisation to tackle, and it was only the Government, through its Internal Marketing Department who could tackle the job successfully. After very many attempts, which always ended in failures and loss, we were, last year, abie to place our standardised fruit before the public through the Dominion. It was partly a failure largely owing to the fact that the machinery tor its production had not been perfected. The Government however, were good enough to recognise this and placed a fixed sum ol 5s 2d per case as being the fair market value F. 0.13. or F.O.R. This sum could easily have been protected, but unfortunately it was overlooked, with the result that speculators stepped in buying up apples at 3s to 4s per case, placing them into cool store and re-selling at 10s to 14s per case. The result of this speculation is that the loss has to be met by the Government.

It is with consternation 1 read my copy of the “Orchardist” just received that it is the intention of the Government not to give any further assistance to the local marketing of fruit, and, possibly export fruit, unless the growers are prepared to hand over the marketing of both local and export fruit to the Internal Marketing Department. In view of these facts the Government cannot be blamed for protecting the taxpayer; in fact, it is only what any respectable government could do, irrespective of what political colour. Quite recently I was in conversation with Mr Brash, the Secretary of the Dairy Board. In reply to my question as to whether the rank and file of the dairy industry were satisfied with the arrangements made he replied : “Yes generally speaking, most satisfied.” To another question, “What kind of a job were the Government making in marketing their goods?” lie replied, “Excellent.” “Then there is every reason to suppose that if the fruit industry requested the Government to market our fruit on similar lines to that adopted for the dairy industry it would be equally successful?” He replied, “1 think so.” And so do I, fellow growers, or this letter would not be written. Now that we have adopted and are placing a standardised article on the market it is worth at least a standardised or fixed market price, just the same as butter, cheese, sugar, milk, or any other article. “Honour to whom honour is due.” Any government that has for its aim the protection of its producers and the prevention from exploitation of the public, surely are worthy of support. After all the protecting of the primary producers and general public is not altogether peculiar to New Zealand. It is claiming the attention of most governments in the world, and, not the least, Conservative Old England. ITocrastination is the thief of time. Growers must act promptly, and now. I believe it is the intention of the Fruit Federalion to shortly take another referendum. The results will be far-reaching to the industry. The issue is either the consolidation of the work which has taken years to build up, or receive such a blow which will practically ruin the industry or at least injure it to such an extent that it will take many years to recover.— I am etc., W GROWER. Nelson, 27th February.