LEMON SHIPMENT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 2

LEMON SHIPMENT

1000 CASES COMING GROWERS’ BITTERNESS FRUIT WASTING ON TREES NO INCENTIVE TO PICK A shipment of 1000 cases of Californian lemons will be landed at Auckland on Saturday from the Matson liner Monterey. It is stated by the Internal Marketing Division, which is importing the consignment and is in- control of lemon marketing in New Zealand, that the lemons will replace North Auckland fruit on the South Island market and thus relieve a Dominion shortage by making local, supplies available for purely North Island consumption. Heavy Cost of Imports

Citrus growers bitterly attack the impox-tation, states the Auckland Herald. Many deny the statement that there is a shortage and say that although hail damaged crops a few weeks ago there would be plenty of lemons on the market if the Government paid growers a fair price The present price of 2d a dozen did not cover production costs ancf as a result many growers were not harvesting their crop. One said he had the equivalent of 400 eases on his trees at present, but would lose money ir he picked them. Some Tauranga growers are reported to be cutting back some trees and pulling ouv others.. It was also stated that the Government would save money by paying New Zealand growers a fair price instead of importing Californian lemons. It was claimed that the last shipment made sold in the auction marts of the South Island from £2 1 Os to £3 a case, a price which would not permit retailing at under 3s to 4s a dozen.

No Encouragement Given

The growers also blame the Government for excessive wastage under departmental control. Whex-eas tinder free marketing 174 per cent was fixed as a reasonable amount for shxdnkage, growers are now asked to accept 33 per cent. “We are getting 2d a dozen for lemons which are selling in the shops from Is 6d onward,” said one grower. “It is obvious that growers have no incentive to keep a continuous supply of lemons on the market. With Government encouragement we could market enough lemons all the year round for the whole Dominion consumption, but the Government purchase price, Government grading and Government curing have placed the industry in a position where, unless immediate changes are forthcoming, importations from California will be a regular and costly procedure.”