LOCAL FRUIT PRICES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 165, 30 July 1937, Page 5

LOCAL FRUIT PRICES

Our Own Correspondent.)

Question of Guarantee auckland"~"viewpoint

(From

AUCKLAND, Last Night. A proposal for the adoption of a' minimum guarantoed price on local fruit market and a request that the Government give minimum guarantee on top grades sold tlirough the usual wholesale channels, sufficient to cover the cost of tho production plus a return to the grower, was supported by the Auckland provincial conference of the New Zealand provincial conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation. The conference considered that local market regulations to provide the guarantee should be introdxlced by the Government. These proposals, and others eontained in over 100 remits prepared by the braneh, will be sent forward for consideration at the Dominion conference in Wellington on August 5. It was recalled in the annual report' that the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, at the Dominion conference last year, gave an indication that the Goverixment would be prepared to consider guaranteed prices simxlar to the dairy industry, being made available for the fruit chop of 1938. Reeent statements by the Minister while in London seemed to cast doubt on this situation. While the final figure for the^export guarantee did not give what was asked for or what was considered adequate, it did at lea&t xxxake for an improvement.. The position in connection with the £40,000 subsidy on the local market was somewhat obscure. The indications wero that these guarantees would cogt the Government very little, if anytlxing. Next season's crop would- bear the full blast of increased costs, and it Was hoped that the arrangements finally agreed upon would adequately meet the position. There was much discussion on the draft of proposed standards for apples and pears, which was outlined by the Director of the Horticulture Dxvision of the Agricultural Department, Mr J. A. Uampbell. It was explained that it was an attempt to eft'ect standardisafcxon on a basis which would be fair to all classes of producers and consumers," and it would probably serve to remove tlxe very poor grades of fruit from the market. " The following Auckland delegates were appointed to attend the Dominion conference: — Mr H. L. Beecroft (North Auckland), Mr O. Ballantyne (Hamilton), Mr H. P. Bryan (Tauranga), Messrs J. A. Lambden, B. A. Mcek, U. H. Scott (Auckland), The Auckland advisory board was formed as follows: Messrs W. J. Rodger (chairman), F. Firth, C. Ballantyne, A. B. Congdon, H. L. Beecroft, B. A. Meek.