Announcement of Policy Demanded

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26628, 26 November 1947, Page 4

Announcement of Policy Demanded

CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT

Special to the Daily Times ROXBURGH, Nov. 25

Government procrastination in the matter of releasing details of its marketing policy in respect to apples and pears in the 1948 season was the subject of some outspoken criticism at a largely-attended meeting of-fruitgrowers of the Roxburgh, Ettrick and Beaumont districts last night. A motion that a telegram of protest be sent to the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, was carried unanimously.

Mr J. H. George, director for Otago on the New Zealand Fruitgrowei's’ Federation, explained to the meeting the endeavours that had been made to reach agreement with the Government on the matter. Ever since the lifting of subsidies, he said, the Government had assured the directors that it would see that the industry was in as sound a position financially in 1948 as it was in 1947. This assurance had been given by Mr Fraser himself at a meeting in Wellington, when Mr Nash, Mr Nordmeyer and Mr Cullen had also been present.

When the Government had reached its agreement with the Dairy Board, continued Mr George, the Minister had made a statement that he hoped shortly to reach a similar agreement with the apple and pear industry. The Government had, it was true, submitted a plan to the directors but there was such a wide margin between this offer and what the directors considered to be a fair price that it had not even been considered worthy •of submission to the growers’ organisations. The federation had submitted an alternative proposal and price which it considered to be acceptable to the industry. The Government, through the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Cullen, had promised on at least three occasions to give a reply but, up to the time of the meeting, no such reply had been received. “ Early apples will soon be on the market and no arrangements have been made for the marketing of this fruit. Under present law it is a criminal offence for the growers to sell apples or pears on local auction markets,” said Mr George.

“We cannot sell. The Government will not buy—except at its own ridiculous price—so what are the growers to do with the fruit which will soon be maturing? Are we to let it fall to the ground and rot? Is this in keeping with the Government’s Dominion-wide Aid

for Britain campaign? ” he asked. Mr George explained that the industry had submitted a proposal asking for a minimum guarantee at a price only high enough to save the industry from complete ruin. The Government had also been asked to lift the ceiling prices during the difficult months of the year high enough to enable the growers to recoup the extra costs incurred by the lifting of the subsidies on fruit and materials. “ The Government now has a golden opportunity to honour the Prime Minister's promise that the industry would not be worse off in 1948 than in 1947. If the Government is sincere in its Aid for Britain campaign let it quicklv promise the industry the marketing organisation it is asking for, so as to enable the growers to make their financial arrangements for covering the costs of production before the season is in progress,” he concluded.

Dissatisfaction at the apparent apathy of the Government was expressed by other speakers, who condemned the attitude to the growers’ representatives in the conducting of negotiations. As well as a resolution that a telegram be sent to the Prime Minister, the following motion was carried unanimously:—-“ That this meeting of Roxburgh, Ettrick, and Beaumont fruitgrowers expresses confidence in its directors and approval of the proposals put forward to the Government.”