SHORTAGE OF CITRUS FRUIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 30 April 1942, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF CITRUS FRUIT

NOT DUE TO MARKETING DIVISION (From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter! Wellington, This Day. Replying in the House of Representa. ? ves last night to an urgent question by Mr W. T. Anderton (Government, Eden), the Minister of Marketing (Mi Barclay) said that a suggestion that the shortage of citrus fruit in the Dominion was due to the decline cf the industry smee the Internal Marketing Division agreed to purchase the crop was enIncl3' contrary to fact. Mr Barclay quoted figures to prove ! that the productive capacity of the industry had greatly increased since 1939. P had to be borne in mind, however he continued ihat the production oi lemons was seasonal. The bulk of the crop was available from July to November, and for the remaining months of tiie year local production was suffi- _• ent to meet only approximately hall (rf the Dominion’s requirements. In normal times this deficiency was adjusted by importations from overseas, but owing to the present situation in j the Pacific, those importations were ‘ now impossible. The war had also affected importa- j lions of oranges from overseas. At the I • resent time onlj r one overseas source i supply was available and for a limited number of months i the year. As far as possible, when supplies of lemons and oranges were strictly limiter. as at present the policy was to ensure an equitable distribution to all centres, and this factor, combined with rigid price control, gave the public the maximum possible protection. "The extent of this protection which the Internal Marketing Division gives,” added Mr Barclay, "is evidenced by the fact that I was informed to-day by re--1 resentatives of fruit retailers that in 1918 the retail price of lemons in New Zealand was from 6s to 8s a dozen. At the present time the maximum price at v hich lemons (other than Meyer lemons, which are not controlled by the division) can be sold is 3s a dozen.” Mr F. W. Doidge (National, Tau-r-.nga): They cost 5d apiece in Wellington.