THE CANNING INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27570, 12 December 1950, Page 8

THE CANNING INDUSTRY

Price Control System Blamed For Short Supply It was to be hoped that the new Minister in Charge of Industries and Commerce, Mr Watts, would quickly get down to a fundamental understanding of the trade and of the people’s requirements, a merchant said yesterday when commenting upon the scarcity of canned fruit available for Christmas. Not only were the licences issued insufficient to meet requirements, but interference with Dominion manufacturers who canned fruit had also affected supplies. If the Dominion canners were allowed to develop their own business they could practically supply all local requirements, he said. As it was, with, controls, on price fixed by the Price Tribunal, they refused to can fruit when it was left to others to decide at what price they could sell it.

For ytars past the supply of canned fruits had been precarious, the manufacturer said. Year after year packers found themselves in the same difficult situation. They were asked to pack “ on spec,” and trust to luck that the tribunal would give them a sufficient margin to warrant packing when the fruit was ready. “ I am quite certain,” he added, “ that New Zealand canned fruit could fill our requirements, but if anything is to be done this season, the Minister will have to make up his mind in a hurry. In an endeavour to meet the people’s needs merchants have to look.to import licences, and supplies have been brought in from Australia and South Africa of fruit which we grow here in abundance.” Even import licences were not available. In reply to a recent request for a licence, the department concerned had replied in the following terms:— “I have to inform you that this has been considered by the Board of Trade, ahd it is regretted that additional licences cannot be granted _ in the meantime. The interim allocation was made to enable merchants to secure supplies from British South Africa, and the main allocation is being withheld until the position regarding local supplies and the Australian season is known.” The interim licence was for 20 per cent, only of the 1950 allocation, the merchant said. New Zealand did not want guavas from South Africa. The

stone fruit season was now starting, and unless packers were given a free hand there was no need for. the Government to waste time until the “position regarding local supplies ” was known. It would be the same as in the past—little or no packing would be done. “It is a fact that the public has been crying out for canned fruit for years,” stated Mr W. Stevenson, the managing director of Irvine and Stevenson’s St. George Company, when asked to comment upon the situation. “It is also a fact that the largest fruit crop for 10 years is promised from Central Otago. We will not know until April, May or June next whether or not we will be allowed to sell canned fruit at a profit, and the canning season is here ” From inquiries made by. the Daily Times, it appears that while the Dominion has to rely on imports for supplies of canned cherries and strawberries, these fruits could easily be dealt with locally. Both these fruits tend to lose colour, or bloom, -when canned or bottled, and it is the universal practice in overseas countries where this industry has developed to add certain colouring matter to strawberries and cherries. Dominion packers, however, are not permitted by regulation to do this, and the'result is that these fruits, of which the Dominion grows an abundant supply, are not packed. Instead, requirements are imported under licence from South Africa and other countries.