STATE CONTROL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19886, 13 March 1939, Page 13

STATE CONTROL

LEMON MARKETING OPERATIVE ON MAY i fJUARANTEE OF PRICK AVERAGE OF G/G A CASE (Por Pi-AKs Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. It is reliably stated that the Government lias decided to take control of marketing of the whole of the New Zealand lemon crop. The move has to! lowed long-standing applications by growers for assistance. Widespread inquiries from growers over the week-end revealed that from May 1, they expect their fruit to be bought by the Internal Marketing Department at an average price of 6s 6d a case. Under the purchasing system which has been arranged, the lemons will be classified into three grades and the price of 6s 6d represents the approximate average for these grades. It does not mean that the growers producing the highest quality lemons will receive no more than (is lid, nor that the lowest quality will be bought at this price. For the lemons of the former type, growers believe they will be paid up to about 2s Cd a case more than the average price, while the fruit of poorer quality is expected to yield under lis.

At the present stage, lemons are the only citrus fruit to be embraced by the scheme. Growers have also la'sked |for asiiistan.ee with their grapefruit and sweet orange crops, but it is stated that these fruits have not yet been made the subject of detailed and exhaustive negotiation.