Fruit Industry

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 3 January 1940, Page 6

Fruit Industry

Announcing the agreement reached between the fruit industry and the Government for the purchase and disposal of the coming season's apple and pear crop, the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, said the expected apple and pear crop for -next season was unusually high. In addition to that the British Government was not arranging to buy New Zealand's export crop as it was doing with the country;'s other main commodities. The war situation meant that at a time when the country had perhaps a record crop it might be without its'main overseas market.

The crop in normal times was not absorbed in New Zealand, for usually about I,ooo,ooocases were exported. \ y'

The Minister said it was not possible at the moment to decide the exact date at which the scheme would start. It would probably take six to eight weeks to make the necessary arrangements, and it would possibly be about the end of January before it could be put into operation. The scheme.was likely to cost the Government a fair amount of money, but the Government would try and arrange the marketing so as to eliminate losses as far as possible. The price was reasonable, and it was considered it would enable the fruitgrower to carry on.