H.—3OA

Kumeras Owing to a hurricane in Niue destroying the native foods, the Division's imports were onlv 73 tons against the previous year's total of 587 tons. The quantities imported this year were as follows

APPLES AND PEARS Purchase-price Towards the end of 1942, representations from the apple and pear industry to the Government resulted in a subsidy of 9d. per case being granted to cover increased costs of orchard maintenance. The overall Dominion average purchase-price remained at ss. 3d. per case with the same schedule of variety and grade groupings operating within that average, and the subsidy was paid out on a flat rate per case conditional upon the payment for pears being 3d. higher than for apples. Apples received 8-69(J. and pears 1 l-69d. per case. The purchase-price for apples and pears continued payable at assembly depots established in production areas. After the fruit has been inspected by officials of Department of Agriculture the Division is responsible for all freights, cartage, storage, &c., incurred in transferring it to the markets. Reference to the financial accounts indicate what an important part of the Division's costs these items represent and the necessity for a reasonable return from the market to meet purchase-price, distribution costs, and brokerage charges. Crop The following table gives the production of apples and pears, according to each province, during the four years the Government purchase plan has operated :—

District Production of Apples and Pears, 1940-43.

Quality of Crop The table of grading percentages given below indicates a marked improvement this year in the higher grades of both apples and pears compared with the two previous seasons. The Commercial grade standard was extended throughout the season so as to allow the inclusion of some fruit previously designated Minimum grade, and towards the end of the season the remaining Minimum grade fruit was accepted in order to allow the Division to release greater quantities for the Armed Forces whilst still maintaining supply to the civilian markets,

7

I ~ Year ended Year ended Source of Supply. 31st March, 31st March, 1044. 1943. 50 lb. bags. 50 lb. bags. Nine .. .. .. .. 2,794 20,961 Cook Islands .. .. .. .. 497 5,011 Fiji ■ • ■ ■ ■ ■ .. .. '324 3,291 26,296

Year. Auckland Po B v a e y rt y Ha B^ e ' s Mson. Ma P ua - Motaeka - 61 " Timara. Otago. Total. Apples 1940 .. 278,612 19,455 701,920 31,234 71,935 211,733 420,304 291,903102,671 7,039115,593 2,252 399 1941 .. 251,623 22,992 525,691 33,240 78,917 294,877 473,102 353,420 96,901 11,179158,783 2,300,785 1942 .. 167,110 40,076 770,923 34,473 70,557183,083 243,601 207,072 91,614 5,688109,4981,923,695 1943 .. 190,300 23,026 422,517 31,917 67,415 307,911 389',539 336,793 121,935 5,840 128,515 2,025,708 Total 887,645 105,549 2,421,051 130,864 288,824 997,604 1,526,546 1,189,188 413,181 29,746 512,389 8,502,587 Pe.ars 1940 .. 21,398 563 69,221 932 1,448 12,148 12,490 19,531 11,232 1,159 17,497 167,619 1941 .. 49,324 4,403 153,395 3,483 2,202 26,119 29,769 43,747 9,808 1,702 23,732 347,684 1942 .. 17,052 2,708 90,215 816 865 9,446 9,266 16,830 14,016 1,525 20,679 183 418 1943 .. 27,706 3,505 106,245 2,766 761 15,471 15,130 33,533 9,969 1,797 18,433 235,376 Total 115,540 11,179 419,076 7,997 5,276 63,184 66,655 113,641 45,025 6,183 80,341 ~934~097 Year. Crop. Export. , T ™ New Zealand.* Gases. Cases. Cases. 1940 .. .. .. 2,420,018 587,504 1,932,514 4941 .. .. .. 2,648,469 4,181 2,644,288 1942 .. .. .. 2,107,113 .. 2,107,113 1943 .. .. .. 2,261,083 .. 2,261,083 * Including sales to U.S.J.P.B., &c., see lator.