POOL SUPPORTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20000, 27 July 1939, Page 6

POOL SUPPORTED

MARKETING OF LEMONS GROWERS SATISFIED EXP 1j A NATION MA DE BIG MEETING IN GISBORNE After hearing the explanation of Mr. A. Turner, Wellington, a representative of the Internal Marketing Department, a meeting of Gisborne lemon growers last night expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made for the marketing of this season’s crop and agreed unanimously to support the grading, curing and marketing pool scheme.

The meeting was a big one, all but one of the commercial lemon growers of the district being present. Witt* Mr. Turner was Mr. Goodwin, district supervisor for the department in Palmerston North, and Mr. J. D. Kennedy, orchard instructor in Gisborne who is in charge of the local packing and curing store. Mr. H. E. Honeyfield, Auckland, who was expected to be present, was unable to come on account of illness. The chair was taken by Mr. .J. C. Hardy, president of the Poverty Bay Growers’ Association. The meeting was called because of great dissatisfaction that had been expressed by Gisborne growers regarding the prices they had been receiving for their crop to date, and Mr. Turner arranged to meet the growers to explain the scheme fully in an effort to remove any misunderstanding that apparently existed. Basis of Agreement Mr. Turner stated that the control scheme was instituted as a result ot repeated requests from citrus growers in Auckland and Tauranga. Regulations had been arranged for grading, and a basis of payment was agreed to at meetings with representatives of the Internal Marketing Department and the Auckland Citrus Council. Growers present at last night’s meeting, however, pointed out that Gisborne was not represented at those gatherings. Continuing, Mr. Turner said that arrangements had been made for payments to average 6s 6d for ibushel eases, although the prices gazetted were on the basis of 3-bushel cases, making the rates appear low. Next season, the payments probably would be on a sliding scale, with larger payments for periods when supplies were scarce. The wholesale prices for lemons were now high, because lemons were In short supply, but later when the flush of supplies came in they would be sold at less than the cost of curing, grading and packing. Probably two-thirds of the crop would be sold at less than cost. Benefit to Growers The scheme would benefit the northern growers more than those in the Gisborne district, for those in the north had averaged only about 4s a case net over the past three years, and they would get Gs 6d this season. So far as they were concerned, the situation had been saved by the control scheme, and the efficient grower in the north should ,bo able to make a profit.

There appeared to be a bright future for the growers in Poverty Bay, where they had many advantages over other districts, provided they educated themselves regarding the requirements of modern growing practice.

Mr. Turner congratulated the Gisborne organisation on the way the lemons were being handled. An excellent job was being done, reflecting great credit on Mr. Kennedy and the staff.

At the close of the meeting, the growers thanked Mr. Turner most heartily for his explanation, which had made many things clear to them, and also Mr. Goodwin for a promise of help on any occasion. Messrs. T. Corson and Son were thanked for the use of ithe office for the meeting.