CITRUS GROWERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 10

CITRUS GROWERS

HIGHER PRICE SOUGHT ASSESSMENT OF COSTS DEPUTATION TO MINISTER To form the basis of representations for an increased price, steps are now being taken by lemon growers in the province to obtain a set , of figures showing accurately tlv.}. costs of production. Negotiations will then proceed in an endeavour to obtain an economic return and also to secure direct financial assistance for the industry. The president of the Auckland Citrus Growers' Association, Mr. J. A. Lambden, said yesterday that, following the conference of growers in Auckland on 'Tuesday," ' specially-ap-pointed representatives discussed the position with the Citrus Advisory Council and with Mr. F. R. Picot, director of internal marketing; It had been decided to hold an investigation into the cost of production of lemons in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and the Internal Marketing Division. Financial Assistance Costs would be taken from about 20 typical orchards of five acres or more and would then be co-ordinated. When this work was completed, a deputation would wait on the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, in an endeavour to secure a guaranteed price sufficient to cover costs and to give growers and their employees a reasonable return for their labour. The possibility of obtaining financial assistance to tide growers over their present" difficulties, brought about by the crop failure and low prices, had also been discussed. Mr. Picot had advised the committee that such assistance could be obtained only from the Government, and, as a result, it had been decided to wait npon the Minis-ter-of Marketing as soon as possible, probably within about three weeks. Value of Local Industry "JVo aim to present a case to the Minister proving that the original guarantee of 6s 6d a bushel has not proved adequate," Mr. Lambden continued. "In the first place we expressed grave doubts whether it would be satisfactory and it was accepted under protest." Mr. Lambden said there were 600 growers in the Auckland district alone, and. unless something was done, they would be forced out of business. If the industry were lost to the .country it would be a severe blow to the community, as not only would the shortage of overseas credit restrict importations, but, in addition, experience had shown that most imported lemons cost twice as much as the amount which the New Zealand industry was prepared to accept.