LEMON GROWERS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21199, 23 August 1940, Page 10

LEMON GROWERS

CAUSE OF DIFFICULTIES ASSISTANCE REVIEWED FALL IN PRODUCTION (By Telegraph.—Special to Time?) AUCKLAND, Friday A statement issued by the Auckland manager of the Internal Marketing Division, Mr A. H. Honeyfield, and confirmed by the Lemon Marketing Advisory Committee at a meeting yesterday, expressed the view that production difficulties rather than the marketing price had caused Auckland lemon growers to state that they are unable to meet costs of production. “The first and most important point to be realised is that organised lemon growers through their associations at Tauranga, Auckland and Kerikeri considered organised marketing essential,” the statement said. “Acting on the advice of the Fruit Marketing Investigating Committee of 1936, representatives of local packing sheds endeavoured to set up a central marketing authority and clearing house. The Minister of Marketing was not able to give these grower representatives the legislative authority they considered necessary so they accepted his alternative suggestion of Government control.” Guaranteed Price Government marketing commenced only after previous marketing systems had broken down. The fundamental difference was a guaranteed price to the lemon grower for marketable grades of 6s 6d for the fruit alone which would cure and pack a bushel. It was interesting to compare this figure with the previous returns of organised lemon growers through their own management for the years ending March 31:—1936, 3s sd; 1937, 6s 7d; 1938, 6s 6d; 1939, 3s 3*d. This basic price had now been raised to 7s, with a promise of a further 6d if obtainable for the fruit alone. It could be seen, therefore, tnat this price was higher than during any of the last four years. The industry had also been assisted by a special grant paid last March in order to offset hail and frosl damage experienced during the winter of 1939. Auckland growers had been assisted to the extent of 10$d a bearing tree.

“After a careful investigation it would appear to be production difficulties rather than the marketing price which have caused Auckland growers to state they are unable to meet costs of production,” it was stated. “Costs are intimately related to the crop per tree—the lower the crop, the higher the cost of production per case. When it is realised that in 1937 there were 48 growers in the Auckland district who harvested over 500 bushels of lemons, whereas in the past season there were only six growers, the fall in crop production can be Men. Causes of Decline “The causes of this fall in production in Auckland appear to be due to the disheartening effects of low prices in 1939, the debilitating effect on trees at this time when much fruit was not harvested and the dry summer of 1939 followed by the most severe hailstorms of the winter of 1939. Lemon trees receiving attention are now making a good recovery, and crops should reach more normal levels during the next 12 months. “The confidence of lemon growers in the main lemon growing districts in the general marketing system at present in operation has been shown during a series of meetings held in Tauranga, Gisborne, Auckland and Kerikeri,” the statement added. “In Tauranga, where over 50 per cent of the lemons of the Dominion are produced, a resolution of thanks and confidence was carried practically unanimously at a meeting on August 8.” A number of growers from districts in the province attended an informal meeting yesterday afternoon. While expressing appreciation of the -work of the Internal Marketing Division in establishing a selling basis for the industry, it was considered that the price for the fruit was not yet sufficient to meet the costs.