FRUIT FOR EXPORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20610, 26 December 1936, Page 10

FRUIT FOR EXPORT

GUARANTEE OF 10 6 A CASE STIPULATION REGARDING WAGES By Telegraph —Press Association WELLINGTON, December 25. A state guarantee of 10 6 a case of New Zealand fruit for export this season was approved by the Cabinet on Thursday. The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. Lee Martin) said it had been recognised that the costs of operating orchards and the pickings, packing and distribution of the fruit had increased and in accordance with its general policy the Government was anxious that the reward to producers and employed labour should be on a reasonable basis. “It is therefore being stipulated that the managers of orchards and specially efficient labour shall be paid at the rate of £4 a week, and permanent adult male employees at the rate of £3/16/0 a week where no board or partial board is provided” continued the Minister. “A complete schedule of wages will be introduced by Order-in-Council as an amendment to the Agricultural Workers Act, 1936. The Government is anxious to obtain the fullest co-operation of producers in the industry and in recognition of the fact that additional costs will be entailed it has been arranged that the guarantee shall be at the rate of 10/6 a case c.i.f., New Zealand currency. This guarantee will apply to all fruit exported through the board and to fruit exported by recognised organisations outside the board, provided such exports are made under the strict supervision of officers of the Department of Agriculture. It must be recognised that the Government is making the concession in that its policy is based on the operations of the board and before next season’s guarantee is considered the question of all exports being controlled by the board must receive attention. “The guarantee of 10/6 a case applies only to fruit exported, but it is confidently expected that the assurance of such a return will encourage the export of fruit unless a relative price equal to or above this figure is obtained on the local market. The Government is alive to the fact that fruit consumed locally should return a net amount to the producers which is equal to the labour surplus provided in computing the export guarantee. It is impossible at this stage to compute the net labour reward to producers, but market realisations will be closely watched so that the financial position of orchard owners may be safeguarded. Should the local market not come up to expectations the true economic position of fruit growers is not so clearly defined as is the case with producers in other branches of primary 7 production and this deficiency in knowledge must be rectified during the coming season. The Government expects units in the fruit-growing industry 7 to co-operate to supply the necessary information so that future consideration of the requirements of the industry may be based on authentic knowledge.”