FREIGHT ON FRUIT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 3

FREIGHT ON FRUIT

Board’s Bill Up j £140,000 I CVZ. Press Association! AUCKLAND, July 11. The 7i per cent rise in freight rates would cost the Apple and Pear Board between £130,000 and £140,000 a year extra, said Mr K. B. Longmore, the board’s chairman. when he returned today from London. Mr Longmore has been in London with the chairmen of the other two producer boards negotiating the new freight rate with representatives of the Blue Star. New Zealand Shipping Company, Shaw Savill, and Port Lines.

He said that freight costs on fruit would now total £l.B million a year. The general feeling in London was that the boards would have to pay more than the per cent increase. Some newspapers predicted a 10 per cent increase,” he said. “On the information I had, wages in Britain had gone up by 9 per cent. Salaries are rising but productivity is not.” he said. “We discussed in considerable detail every economic circumstance, change in costs and trends and finally agreed to give them 7? per cent,” he said.

The extra charge would put an extra lid on each case, he said.

New Zealand fruit was being bought confidently. “It’s coming out of the ship promptly and in excellent condition.” he said. Mr Longmore said GrannySmith apples were becoming very popular in England.

Tofua Due.—The Tofua is due at Lyttelton from Suva today at 6 a.m. She will discharge general cargo, including bananas.