APPLES AND PEARS

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

APPLES AND PEARS

PRICE FOR CURRENT SEASON

GUARANTEED MINIMUM SOUGHT

P.A. NELSON, Nov. 25. A meeting of the Nelson Provincial Fruitgrowers’ Association, held at Mapua last evening, appointed a deputation to wait on the Prime Minister at Wellington this week. The deputation will support the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation in its efforts to obtain a satisfactory minimum guarantee for the 1948 export season, the adjustment of ceiling prices, and maximum export shipments. The meeting was called by the Nelson Fruit Advisory Committee as a result of a report from Wellington that no satisfactory progress was being made in negotiations with the Government. Mr F. Archer. Nelson director of the federation, said the' Government had advised that no permanent marketing scheme could be brought in immediately, and a stop-gap arrangement would be made for handling the 1948 crop. The average pay-out for the 1947 season for apples and pears was 9s 2d a case, but with the removal of subsidies the growers were faced with increased costs of at least Is 9d a case.

After giving details of the Government's offer, Mr Archer said the growers had made a counter proposal that the minimum guarantee be on the basis of 8s 6d a case plus packing premiums, including payment for strawboard and wraps estimated to cost lOd a case.

luo 1/ a taac. PIP FRUIT GROWERS DISSATISFIED

P.A. HASTINGS, Nov. 25. Because of the Government’s failure to indicate its intentions with regard to next season’s marketing of the pip fruit crop, the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association, at a well-at-tended meeting last night, decided unanimously to protest emphatically to the Minister of Agriculture and Marketing, Mr Cullen, and his Cabinet associates for their neglect in not making an announcement before this date. The resolution was advanced by Mr A. Miller, Hawke’s Bay director of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation. and a member of the Joint Committee which has been negotiating with the Government for a post-war marketing scheme for pip fruit. A deputation was appointed to wait on Mr Fraser and Mr Cullen to register the association’s protest, and other associations in the Dominion are to be advised of this decision.