HEAVY CROP OF APPLES EXPECTED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19258, 20 December 1930, Page 11

HEAVY CROP OF APPLES EXPECTED.

PLENTY OF WORK FOR SKILLED PACKERS. Per Press Association. NELSON - , December 19. !Mr J. 11. Parker. Nelson manager of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation, Ltd., gives a denial to a statement made in* Christchurch by Mr Gray Wilkinson that the apple crop in Nelson this year is likely to be a particularly light one. “ The Nelson crop this season is estirna*e,<? *°. as heav F as was last year,” said Mr Parker. “ A similar amount of shipping space as for last year has been booked for this season. Growers’ estimates now to hand show practically the same quantities as at this time last year. ” This year the Cox’s orange crop shows a considerable increase over last season—of at least fifty per cent,” continued Mr Parker. “ Stunners are as heavy as ever, but it is probable that Dunns will show a slight falling off.” A Federation representative said that it was practically useless for people unskilled in fruit handling to come to the district in the hopes of getting employment. However, there was plenty of work for skilled packers. Wages of Fruit Pickers. Local growers refute Mr Wilkinson’s statement concerning low wages paid to boys and girls. The usual rate for packers and graders is Is an hour, and as many of those who go into orchards for the picking season have only just left school, it is contended they are being exceedingly well paid. One grower, commenting on the statement, said he would like to ask Mr Wilkinson to mention” another occupation in which boys and girls from fifteen years on could earn 8s a. day on their first job.