BLANK REFUSAL

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22199, 19 November 1943, Page 4

BLANK REFUSAL

PRICES FOR FRUIT GROWERS AND GOVERNMENT (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday The directors of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, Limited, have refused to accept the Government’s prices for the coming season's pip fruit crop. For some months . the federation has been negotiating with the Government for an increase in p#ice. Last year’s price, with concessions, was the equivalent of an average of 6s a case for the coming season. The federation claimed 6s which, it said, was barely the cost of production. It was believed the Government would accept the finding of the Stabilisation Commission on actual J production costs as the basis of price. I The federation’s statement is as | follows:—“A distinct shock was experienced by the directors today when they met the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, the Minister of Supply, ’the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. B. Roberts, and the Minister of Rehabilitation, the Hon. C. F. Skinner, to hear the result of the consideration which had been given by a subcommittee of the Stabilisation Commission to production costs in the pip fruit industry. “The committee had spent three months in consideration of these costs, but Mr Nash advised the directors of the federation that production costs could not be considered and that the only concession which could be granted was a small allowance in the way of a cool store premium on a portion of the crop and cancellation of the inspection levy, with a vague promise that the position of growers on uneconomic orchards would be considered. “Amazement and dissatisfaction were most emphatically expressed. The directors refused point-blank to accept such unreasonable terms.” Government’s Claims Commenting on the statement by the federation, the deputy-Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Nash, said tonight that the information conveyed to the federation was in accordance with the decision of the Stabilisation Commission, in which it was stated that since 1939 the costs of fruitgrowers had increased by lid a case, while the Government had increased the price “It has been established that between the 1943 and 1944 growing seasons, no increase in costs had to be borne by the industry,” said Mr Nash. “It was recommended that a bonus of 6d a case should be paid on all fruit which, in the opinion of the inspector, is of the type and maturity suitable for storage for four months, or longer. This bonus will be paid during the coming season. “The inspection fee of one halfpenny a case at present charged by the Government will be abolished. The Internal Marketing Division will extend its purchasing schedule to include fruit with a maximum count of 252 apples to the bushel, at a price to be arranged. The return to the producer for such apples will be outside the apple pool arrangements. “A committee of inquiry will be set up to make an economic survey of the industry with a view to determining measures to improve the position of that part of the industry below an economic margin.”