THE CITRUS INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23277, 21 February 1939, Page 7

THE CITRUS INDUSTRY

KERIKERI PROSPECTS INCREASED PRICES REQUIRED [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] KAEO, Monday During a casual conversation on his visit to the Kerikeri Citrus Society's factory to-day, the Minister of public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, heard j something of the troubles of the growers. For oranges they received this year a net return of three shillings a case. Six shillings was required to make the industry an economic success, said Mr. Emanuel. "It is that or we go out," he said. : - "But there can be no question of you growers going out," said Mr. Semple. "It would be a contradiction of Government policy if the industry were not put in a position to prosper and expand. We are trying to build New Zealand. For 80 years we have been building other countries. We want to give you the incentive to go on." The Minister asked if a quota system of import would meet the c&sie. The opinion of the Kerikeri representatives was that, seeing orange production in the Dominion was still so far short of meeting the demand, a subsidy system would be better.

Mr. Emanuel mentioned that in 10 years the population of Kerikeri had grown from 30 to 600 or 700. That indicated the scope of the citrus industry in the district, but everything depended upon some protection. .