WHAT IS THE REASON ?

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 January 1931, Page 8

WHAT IS THE REASON ?

(To the 'Editor) Sir,—l read with the greatest astonishment in yesterday’s “Evening Mail” that the Fruit Control Board had turned down a good Continental offer to purchase outright a large quantity of New Zealand apples and pears. The fruitgroAver has never been in. as good a position as he was before the war, when the whole of the export to South America, then the only market, Avas sold on a f.o.b. basis at Nelson or Motueka. Hie grower received the money as soon as the fruit Avas shipped, and knew well in advance Avhat he might expect to realise for his season’s crop. Since the Avar Ave have been striving to get back to the old basis, Avithout, it must be said, very much support from the Fruit Board. Conditions; are undoubtedly very different i to pre-war times and the"amount of fruit available for export lias enormously increased, but the need for f.o.b. or c.i.f. salesJs just as urgent. The average grower cannot afford to gamble with his fruit—the result of his Avhole year’s work—as he has had to do of recent years. I might mention that the members of the packing association to which I belong last season sold a proportion of their fruit through the Board at a price in the case of Stumers round about 13s c.i.f. Hamburg. The balance of these Sturtners had to be consigned in the usual (vay to the United Kingdom where the bulk of them realised from 3s to 7s a case. Is it any Avonder that the groAver is “all out” for f.o.b. sales? I realise that the Fruit Board is composed of reasonable men who are trying to do their best for the industry, but this latest action is rather staggering to the average grower Presumably the Board did not turn down what appears to be an exceptionally good offer without reason. I think the grower is entitled to know this reason, and I hope an adequate reason Avill be forthcoming. —I am, etc., OHAS H MAC KAY. Upper Moutere, 17th Jan.