FRUIT FOR GERMAN FIRM.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5370, 4 January 1929, Page 2

FRUIT FOR GERMAN FIRM.

JIINIISTER ADVOCATES PROPOSAL. REJECTED BY CONTROL BOARD. The various, export control boards of New Zealand may look forward to a whittling, of. their powers at the hands of the Ward Government if what, has happened recently in connection with the Fruit Control Board can be acc.ep.ted as a criterion of the new Administration’s future policy (states the “Dominion”).,

All soris of rumours, have been cur-i rent during the past .weqh or so concerning the refusal of the Fruit Control Board to grant the necessary authority for the f.o.b. 'sjupply of New Zealand apples to'a German firm. Spe-< cial inquiries by the “Dominion” show that shortly after the Hon.' G. W. Forbcp assumed the portfolio of Agriculture, he was advised by a certain firm 'of Wellington merchants that a welLknown Habui’g firm, Messrs. Lutten and Co,, desired to purchase, at a price, 30,000 cases of New Zealand apples. Under the; terms of the Fruit Control Act, however, fruit cannot be exported from New Zealand without the agreement of the’ Control Beard. The new Minister of. Agriculture was accordingly "requested to give the necessary authority for the purchase and subsequent export. It is understood that the Hon. G. W. Forbes, who at that time had been less than a fortnight in office, wrote; to the board indicating that in his opinion the necessary authority Should be granted. At tile time of the allegpd; offer for the f.o.b. purchase was rec.eived, however, the Fruit Control Board (the “Dominion’s” inquiries further reveal) had already arranged for, the consignment of. 100,000 cases of the same quality fruit to. Rotterdam for distribution in. the various Northern European markets, including Hamburg. In those markets the apples would be sold at current market rates.

As is well known, the Control Board is responsible for the distribution of the fruit for export of, rough-; ly, 6000 growers, and it is clear that had it agreed to the proposition of the Minister of Agriculture only a handful of growers could have participated in the sale, in viejw qf its size.

A special meeting of the board was held to consider the proposal of the Minister, and after full consideration the; board, it is gathered, decided, that while a few growers might benefit, it was unable in the interests of growers as a whole to agree to the f.o.b. order. Another factor understood to have influenced the board was the knowledge that ‘ the acceptance of the order could easily result in the fruit being sold ill Hamburg at prices that might be detri-; mejutal to the other. New Zealand fruit s,ent bn consignment. The decision of the board hast been conveyed to the Government, from whom, through the Minister of Agriculture, the; next move, if any, must come.

Publication of the foregoing information will no. dbubt raise in the minds of Dominion growers generally grave concern as to what future lies ahead, of their board* “Is this not the thin e;nd of the wedge and a preliminary to bite repeal of the compulsory clauses of the ‘Act ?” is the question many will doubtless ask. The answer can be given only by the Hon. G. W. Forbes., who at present is in the South Island.