HOW FRUIT GUARANTEE WORKS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 156, 20 July 1937, Page 12

HOW FRUIT GUARANTEE WORKS

Compensated Minimum for Export Urged C0NFERENCE REMUS " I want the public to know just how we stand with regard to the Government guarantee," said Mr. S. Salter, when the Hawke's Bay provincial conference of the Fruit Export Control Board resumed yesterday afternoon in the Oddfellows' Hall, Hastings. Mr. Saiter pointed out that it was clearly shown in the boards' balanee-sheet that, wftrile practieally £600,000 had been spent by the fruitgrowers, all that they had got bhck was Toughly £270,000. "That is quite correct," agreed Mr. W. Menzies. "Another way to put it should be that out, of the 10/6 — the amount of the guarantee — a net 2/3 goes to pay for production." Messrs. A. M. Baumgart, D. S. McLeod and J. H, Milne were appointed delegates to attend the export conference in Wellington. The foiiowmg remits were con-sideredi-r- " That 4n future the guarantee be given at so mueh per case, grower's sbed. The present guarantee of 10/6 ,u.y Z.cuiaiia currency ^owiug Lu variation of the consolidated charge; does not give growers in different districts the same net return. ' ' — The xeniit was left to the delegates. "That the Government be asked to pay a compensating minimum price for fruit exported. ' ' — Oarried. "That a separate pool be made for the Hills portion of the Port Nelson export disL/ict. "-r-Thia was left to the delegates. ' ' That the attention of > the Fruit Export Control Board' be drawn to the heavy diversion of Auckland Delieious to markets other than those i'or which they are stickered, and that the Contro] Board be asked to state its poliey in this respect. ' ' — Lef t to the delegates. "That no de-grading by inspectors be allowed without consultation witl the exporter." — Left to delegates, "That the Director of Horticulture be asked to confer with the Export Fruit Board befqre making any alter^tion to export regulations.'' — Carried, "That the Fruit Bioard should consider seriously curtailing the number of varieties included in good grade fot export."— Carried. "That provision be made in the regulations, whon hail mark is only a slight indentation, for the same percentage of blemish allowed for othei blemish.' ' — Opposed, tSeveral delegates pointed out that if was a mistake to export hail-marked fruit, although Hawke's Bay fruitgrowers were heavy losers from hail. The marks' might easily he mistaken for bitter pit. With other blemishes the percentage was small, but with hail every piece of fruit in the case would be marked generally. "That the amount of allowabie Sturmer russet he substantially reduced in both extra-fancy and fancy grades." — Carried. "That the russet allowance foi Granny Smith be increased to 15 pei eent." — Opposed. "That the grading reguiation requiring good-grade Jonathan to hiave at least 5 per cent. red colour should he amended to 5 per cent. of striped colour. " — Opposed. . "That Ballarat size 80, Granny Smith size 96, Bome Beauty size 113, be allowed for export. The present maximum sizes are Ballarat 88, Granny Smith 113, Bome Beauty 125." — Opposed, "That the opening and closing dates of Cox's Orange and Jonathan be discussCd in relation to the condition fo arrival overseas." — Left to the delegates. '' That the 180 size m peaxs" be included in the C group," — Opposed. "That as the ripening qualities of P. Barry pears are unduly retarded by prompt precoeling after packing, the Control Board be asked to see that not more than, 14 days and at least ten days elapse between picking and packing, Carried. "That in view of the reported considerable increiase in the cost of paper wraps, consideration be given to the best means of economising in the use of wraps. (Suggested experiments with wnapping alternate rows.)'' — Left to the delegates. ''That the contemplated introduction of oiled wraps for universal use for 1938 export be not proceeded with until their use has proved to be of definite value. ' ' — Carried, "That further investigation should be made regarding the use and advantages of the all-round wrap,. experiments to include the use of an allround plain pad. " — CaTried. Cheaper Corrugated Pad. That ihe possibility of a cheaper corrugated pad beiug used for export be diseussed. '' — Carried. ' ' That ifc be a xecommeiidation to the Coutrol Board that corrugated allround pads be one half-inch wider thax used this past seasou. " — Opposed. "That the whole questiou of cost of cases be eousidered.''— Carried. "That the tops and buttoms of the export case be l-4in. instead of 3-16in. and the side 3-8in. instead of 5-16in."— - Opposed. ' 'That every eff ort be made to secure bay loading of Napier, Gisborne and Nelson fruit.' ' — Carried. "That the board should use every endeavour to inerease Nelson loading and that it should approaeh the Nelson Hiarbour Board to provide increased wliarf f acilities. ' ' — Carried. ' ' That it be a recommendation to the Institute of Horticulture that the Bledisloe C'up should be competed ior annually in Wellington, instead of in n different centre each year, in order that exporting distriets may compete on more equitable conditions, particularly regarding transport." — Left to the delegates. "That the board take the necessary ••!teps to have all export fruit pooled afccording to varicty, grade aud size on a Dominion basis." — Opposed. 1 "That the Government stamp

should be printed on every label," — Opposed. "That the bnands should be stamped ou the wood of the box as well as on the labels, and that a labcl be affixed on only onc end of the case instead of on each end." — Carried.