MOVE TO ARRANGE EXPORT OF APPLES

Chronicle (Levin), 14 August 1947, Page 7

MOVE TO ARRANGE EXPORT OF APPLES

■Press Association

Bv Telearavh-

WELLINGTON, August 13. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash has agreed to endeavour to arrange the export of 1,000,000 cases of New Zea land apples in the eoming season and if to enter into negotiations with the Bri tish Governnient imniediately. This wa,1 stated by the president of the Nev Zealand Fruitgrowers ' Federation, Mr. A. G. Congdou, at the annual conference after he and otlier ofiicers of the federation had returned from au interview with the Minister. Mr. Congdon stated that Mr. Nash had said the priee to be paid foi apples would be arranged between the Governnient and representatives of the industry. Mr. Congdon said the question of the removal of the subsidy on fruit had ■ been raised and the Minister had intimated that the effect of the removal of subsidies would be adjusted in industry negotiations with the Price TribunaJ but that there was no indication that the priees lixed wc/uld give growers the same return as last season. It revolved round the export position. Mr. Nash had then agreed to the export oi 1.000.000 cases.

lleferring to the estimated erop in the coming season Mr. Congdon said he had suggested that a eonsiderably increased price would have to be paid to growers for fruit put on the local market, eom pared with the price lixed last season. To this the Minister liad said it was a question which would have to be settled between the industry and the Price Tribunal. A deeision to request that the funds of the Fruit Export Control Board be disbursed to export growers pro rata, covering eaeh of the three years prior to the board 's going into reeess, was made by the eonference. One shipinent of fruit he knew of had gone back and forth across Cook Strait until in the linish ' ' it had grown whiskers, " said Mr. H. J. Chignell, of Nelson, at the eonference. He was referring to the serious' effect on fruit car^oes of shipping- delays which, he understood, were mainly attributable to holdups in the discharge of vessels. At Mapua, he stated, growers made every effort to assist in loading the vessels to facilitate despatch, despite the.ir preoccupation with seasoual aetivities. On one oeeasion, by using all available men, the eargo had been loaded in 5?, hours but the discharge in Wellington had taken four to five days.