FRUIT SEVERELY DAMAGED

Chronicle (Levin), 20 November 1946, Page 9

FRUIT SEVERELY DAMAGED

WEATHER HITS ORCHARDISTS AUGKLAND, Nov. 19. Heavy losses in pip and stone fruit crops throughout New Zealand, repre senting tens of thousands of pounds, as the result of continued unseasonable weather, were revealed by Mr. A. B. Gongdon, president of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers ' Federation. Addressing a meeting of orchardists in Oratia, Mr. Gongdou, who recent l\ returned from an extensive tour of the t'ruit-growing districts, said frosts, haii and cold winds had played havoc wit n stone fruit iu the Hastings and Nelson districts and the weather had also sori ously aifected the setting of fruit in thc Auckland Province. In Hawke's Bay, he said, 80 pcr cent. ot' the stone fruit crop had been ruined aud in Nelson over 20 per cent. He mentioned that the committee of the Fruitgrowers ' Federation had met the Price Tribunal and asked for ceiling prices to be removed. "it is very foolish for auy Government department to say to the growcrs, after the dis usters they have encountered, that they can be paid only so much for vvliat fruit remains to them," said Mr. Gongdon He stressed the need for a marketing policy based on a proper assessment of costs and added that the fruitgrowers decision on this matter had been for warded to the Government. In the pas: £5 10s a week had been regarded as :m ndequate remuneration for an orcharJ owuer but today, with increased costs, of replacement, costs of fighting disease and other liabilities, it could not be less than £8 a week. The fruit growers, he considered, should reeeive an overall average of not less tlian 10s a case. Mr. Gongdon said the industrv had room for many young rnen and while conditions had been ditticult over the war vears, he thought the future was brighter than many believed.