PRICE OF FRUIT

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 282, 27 August 1942, Page 8

PRICE OF FRUIT

New Basis Urged For Next

Season VIEWS OF GROWERS

The danger of a shortage of fruit developing if growers were nor. given better remuneration was stressed by speakers at the annual conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, which decided to ask the Government to fix the purchase price for next season’s.crop on the basis of the 1937 cost of production plus assessed costs since that date. Air. B. L. Robinson said that last year’s price was not adequate. The federation directors had decided to ask for a cost-of-production price based on figures taken out hi 1937, plus extra costs resulting in the interim. There was plenty of money in the country, he said. Other sections were making handsome profits,, but fruitgrowers were existing on a starvation Even if the Government agreed to give a price that would cover all factors, would the public stand the drain on the State purse? asked Mr. A. Brown. The alternative of cutting costs would have to be considered. He believed that if present conditions.continued many orchardists would have to go out of business altogether. The president, Air. T. C. Brash, said the industry was unquestionably deteriorating and in a few years, if nothing was done, fruit would be scarce. Growers should be placed by the Government on the same basis as producers of other commodities, classed as essential.

Air. B. T. Turner said the assessment of costs of production would raise difficulties in different districts where costs varied considerably. “Have we got a hope of getting this?” asked Mr. Black. "We have to cut our own costs somehow.” Mr. H. J. Chignall said growers had already tightened their belts to the limit, while other industries were prospering. t , Mr. H. J. Masson said the subsidy had really been to the consuming public, which had had fruit at a cheap price, rather than to the growers. “If tve stand fast in our approach to the Government we will get what we ask for,” said Air. Robinson.