GRAVE PROBLEM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1941, Page 7

GRAVE PROBLEM

NO OUTLET FOR AUSTRALIAN FRUIT SCHEME TO AVOID GLUT. ATTEMPT TO OVERCOME DIFFICULTY. (FU Ti'li-ni riph- Press Association—Copyright I SYDNEY. February 27. The lack of export possibilities for apples and pears grown in Australia has created a grave problem alike for orchardists. particularly the Tasmanians. and the Commonwealth Government. Australia's apple anti pear crop this year is estimated at 11.000.000 cases and the normal consumption within the Commonwealth is 6.000,000 cases: thus there is no market for the remaining 5.000.000 which is destined to go to waste. Tlie Commonwealth Government has attempted to grapple with the problem by the creation of an Apple and Pear Acquisition Board, whose job is to acquire the whole crop and sell it to the best advantage and. by pooling all the funds, ensure that every grower will receive some return whether his apples are sold or allowed to rot. on the trees. The board is not concerned with providing cheap fruit for the people: instead it insists that only the best varieties of apples and pears shall be marketed and what remains shall either be allowed to rot on the trees, be fed to livestock, or be buried. Thus, approximately 700.000.000 will not be allowed to reach the consumers for fear of glutting or depressing the market for choice varieties, which alone will form the basis of the financial pool. Growers everywhere are greatly incensed al the operation of the acquisition plan under which literally thousands of orchardists will receive only the Board's fixed price of 4s. a case for apples and pears which are bringing 12s. on the open market.