PIP FRUIT PRICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23992, 15 December 1939, Page 7

PIP FRUIT PRICES

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEME ❖ CANTERBURY GROWERS’ VIEWS - BELOW COST OF PRODUCTION ” (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 14. “I didn’t think that I would live to see the day, war or no war. when a scheme such as this would be brought jn.” said Mr B. T. Turner, chairman of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association, at a meeting of the association last evening, when the Government s offer to purchase the whole New Zealand apple and pear crop at an average price of 5s a case was discussed Tfje price was well below the cost of production. Mr Turner said. The Canterbury growers, said Mr Turner, had nevep been in favour of the scheme, but as it had been adopted by a conference of the industry in Wellington, Canterbury growers would have to abide by the decision of the majority. “ What I can’t get over,” he said, is the growers’ representatives accepting this price, in view of their assertion in the spring to the Internal Marketing Department that the cost of production was between 6s 9d and is »ci a case at standard rates of wages. It looks a bit stupid agreeing to 5s a case in view of what was previously said about prices. Can you imagine a wheatgroVver or dairy farmer finding out what it costs to produce and then accepting less than that amount. Statement by Delegate Mr F. Sisson, who was a delegate to the meeting in Wellington, said that the schedule had been agreed upon unanimously, but the meeting made it clear that the industry’s acceptance of the Government’s offer was for one year only. It was also made clear to the Government that as the price proposed would not cover the cost of production, any increase in costs should be added to the price. “We are at war, and there is not much hope of getting fruit out of New Zealand,” said Mr Sisson. Therefore, with the large crop expected all over the Dominion, I could see nothing but bankruptcy for the growers if the scheme was not adopted. I voted for the scheme myself, because as a grower I was anxious to see that the growers got some return. You can just exist on the price offered. A number of questions relating to storage, packing, and varieties to be bought were put to Mr Sisson, who said that until the complete scheme was submitted to the growers, details could not very well be discussed. The Government was waiting now for the growers' acceptance or rejection of the price. The scheme was being worked out in Wellington, and the Government was working on it day and night. “Pretty Stiff Proposition” The Government was up against a pretty stiff proposition, said Mr G. E. Billson, and although he did not agree with its policy, he felt that it was doing its best to help the growers “But where is the scheme leading? he asked. “The growers are definitely against control in any form. If the Government it trying to help we should not put obstacles in its way, but we should be careful that it does not develop into a permanent scheme of control. We don’t want to let this be the thin end of the wedge to socialise the indusry.” The Australian scheme, said Mr Turner, would return the growers 2s a case for apples and 3s for pears, and any more that the fruit brought above that. In face of the Australian scheme, the New Zealand one looked attracConsideration of the scheme as it affected Canterbury was left in the hands o;t a sub-committee.