FRUIT PRESERVING.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1439, 13 December 1923, Page 8

FRUIT PRESERVING.

MANUFACTURERS' PROBLEMS

(Bv Telegraph. Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Wednesday.

The directors of the Pacific Preserving Co., Ltd., state in their annual report that the year ended 'September 30th last was one of unusual difficulty for the preserving industry, and could not but result in considerable loss to the company. Regarding the canned fruit branch, the dumping of Californian and Australian fruits which took place, notwithstanding vigorous ■ protests to the Government from both growers and canners, caused reductions in selling prices which meant a very heavy loss to New Zealand packers. "In this connection it may not be out of place to remark," the directors say, "that but scant inducement is given to secondary industries such as that which comprises the activities of the companv, and the loss which must result to the community owing to the lack of proper measures for protection and fostering ,of businesses dealing with primary products of the country is regrettable." With reference to the manufacture and sale of jam, it was necessary to report that the cheap and plentiful supply of fruit last summer enabled private stocks of jams to be put up, and that this resulted in a reduced sale of this product. The sum of £3252 had, after careful consideration, been written off stock, plant, old labels and buildings. This sum included an item of £I3OO, represented by three-year-old fruit pulp found to be unfit for use, which had to be destroyed. The disabilities ,of carrying on under these conditions had received the careful consideration of the directors, and they felt that in the interest of all the best course was to sell the whole of the company's undertaking and assets to a new company to be formed under the same name as the present company, and they had accordingly entered into an agreement to that effect.