FRUIT EXPORTS

Southland Times, Issue 25746, 9 August 1945, Page 7

FRUIT EXPORTS

RESUMPTION AWAITED BY GROWERS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 8. Although the new Government in Britain seemed to be one elected essentially by the industrial country, it did not appear that agriculture would suffer or that New Zealand’s export future there would be less promising, said Mr T. C. Brash, president of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, presenting the annual report at the conference of orchardists today. He believed the Labour Government in Britain would seek to maintain a higher standard of living. There was not enough food now in the world and New Zealand would have an important part in alleviating the position. The annual report stated that there had been speculation about when shipping would be available for the resumption of the export of apples and pears. It bad been learned that during the current season an offer to purchase a nominal quantity of apples for export was receiyed from Britain and that the offer was not accepted, although no reason had been given to the growers. It was felt that this offer should have been accepted, even at the expense of the grower'and the public. In all other cases of exportable primary produce, rationing in New Zealand had been introduced to allow the maximum quantity to be sent overseas. The New Zealand public had been well supplied with, apples and pears during the war and the transfer of a small parcel or this year’s crop to Britain would have been no hardship to the consumers. Further, it was highly desirable that advantage of the export markets should be taken as they became available.