LOCAL FRUIT PRICES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 206, 31 July 1937, Page 4

LOCAL FRUIT PRICES

QUESTION OF GUARANTEE. AUCKLAND ARGUMENTS. Per Press Assoication. AUCKLAND, July 30. A proposal for the adoption or a minimum guaranteed price on the local fruit market and a request tiiat the Government give a minimum guarantee on top grades sold through the usual wholesale channels, sufncien. to cover the cost of the production plus a return to the grower, was supported by the Auckland provincial conference of the New Zealand r ruitgrowers’ Federation. The conference considered that local market regulations to provide the guarantee should be introduced by the Government. These pronosals. and others contained in over'loo remits prepared by the branch, will be sent forward for consideration at the Dominion conference in Wellington on August 5. It was recalled in the annual report that the Minister of Marketing (Hon. W. Nash) at the Dominion 0911ference last year, gave an indication that the Government would be prepared to consider guaranteed prices similar to the dairy industry, beiil!| made available for the fruit crop or 1938. Recent statements by the Minister while in London seemed to cast doubts on this situation. While the final figure for the export guarantee did not give what was asked for or what was considered adequate, it did at least make for an improvement. The position in connection with the £40,000 subsidy on the local market was somewhat obscure. The indications were that these guarantees would cost the Government very little, if anything. Next season’s crop would bear the full blast of increased costs, and it was hoped that the arrangements finally agreed upon would adequately meet the position. There was much discussion oil the draft of proposed standards tor apples and pears, which was outlined by the Director of the Horticulture Division of the Agricultural Department (Mr J. A.. Campbell). It was explained that it was an attempt to effect standardisation on a basis which would be fair to all classes of producers and consumers, and it would probably 6erve to remove the very poor grades of fruit from the market. The following Auckland delegates were appointed to attend the Dominion conference: —Mr H. L. Beecroft (North Auckland). Mr C. Ballantyne (Hamilton), Mr H. P. Bryan (Tauranga), Messrs J. A. Lambden. B. A. Meek, C. H. Scott (Auckland). TheAuckland advisory board was formed as follows: Messrs W. J. Rodger (chairman), F. Firth, C. Ballantyne, A. B. Condon, H. L. Beecroft, B. A. Meek.