Who gets profit on Rush urges Okanagan apples? By JOHN KLIM The and LEO Ks AC HEROWSKI VERNON, B.C. Royal Commission into the Okanagan fruit industry has stimulated great interest among Vernon growers, many of whom have been operating at a loss for several years. of them have McPhee, ll lo sioner frost-ki es, U.S. dumping, dwindling markets, falling cash incomes and other problems. Since the big freeze in 1949 and again in 1950, there has been considerable discontent among growers. Each year promises of better prices have failed to materialize, crops have declined in volume and growers have been bulldozing frost-killed trees and replant- ing with young stock which they entered in their ac- counts. as expense instead of income. Promises of better prices for fruit ‘were given to growers in a period of relative boom in other Canadian industries, when corporation profits were hitting an all-time high. Growers, instead of sharing in this prosperity, found them- selves steadily going behind. More and more they - were compelled to seek - “off-the- farm” jobs to keep their fam- ilies fed and clothed, and to raise money to keep their or- chards going. It seems like a nightmare to see this fertile and famous Okanagan _—‘ Valley (known throughout the world _as one of the finest fruit-growing ar- eas) facing one of the «worst slumps since the Hungry Thir- ties. In industry, the larger the output the more the company prospers. To the fruit grower it seems the more he produces, the worse off he is because full warehouses bring prices down even though the consumer gets no benefit. Somebody gets the . profit — but not the grower. Growers recall the 1949 re- cord crop which spelled ruin for the unsuspecting. Growers everywhere expected _ large returns. Apples were being sold to prairie consumers at near record prices, but when the June returns came in they went as low as five cents a box. One grower testified that “a manager from a prairie co- op store came to the Okana- gan to purchase five carloads of apples because the whole- salers could not purchase any apples whatsoever, and was refused the sale for reasons unknown, by the BCFGA.” At the same time Okanagan cold storage plants were loaded. ROOFING REPAIRS Duroid, Tar and Gravel Gutters and Downpipes Reasonable NICK BITZ PA. 6031 . however, Scores come forward to give evidence before Commis- to reveal their grievances and testify about Demands made by some to eliminate the sale of fruit through” brokers, who purchase apples at a “fair price” to themselves in the fall and freeze sales until they can realize a good profit. So the growers are burdened with all the costs of cold storage, repacking and dumping of culls resulting from long stor- age. Demands were also made for action to stop firms going across the line to purchase U.S. apples at reduced rates, while Okanagan apples rot and the best fruit is diverted to processors at $9 per ton Who can produce apples for $9 per ton? How can growers get a decent return when, as one grower testified ‘we are bargaining through closed doors,” while sales: to co-ops and directly to wholesale firms are banned? One Vernon grower, who operated 24 acres of full-bear- ing orchard, raised a record crop of 14,000 boxes in 1949. Early in 1950 his house burn- ed down and people collected money and the Red Cross pro- vided clothes for him and his family until his crop returns came in from the packing house. In June 1950, when he received his statement, it showed that he owed the packing house $47. Many of the growers who testified wanted either sub- sidies or long-term low-inter- est loans. Some opposed loans saying they felt the frost-killed trees have burden- ed them with enough debts already. And so the inquiry contin- ues and may continue for some months yet. Growers are hoping that before it con- cludes it will reveal who gets the big slice between the $6- $7 a box prairie consumers pay and the small return they themselves receive. NEW ZENITH CAFE 105 E. Hastings St. For the Finest in Good Eating were CONSTANTINE Fine Custom Tailoring Ladies’ and Gentlemen Rm. 118, 603 W. Hastings St. PA. 5810, Vancouver 2, B.C. sd PATRONIZE — CARNEL‘’S COFFEE SHOP 410 Main Street Under New Management Robbie & Grace Robertson China trade HANEY, B.C. The claim that “trade with China and India could keep our mills going at capacity for years to come” was made by Maurice Rush, LPP federal candidate for Vancouver Cen- tre, speaking at a public ’meet- ing here. Commenting on layoffs which already have affected more than 200 woodworkers in the Maple Ridge district, Rush blamed the St. Laurent govern- ment’s tight money policies, which restricted building, and reluctance to oppose the U.S. ban on trade with China, for unemployment in the lumber industry. A resolution adopted by the meeting called on the federal government: t e' To ease credit restrictions on building. @ To launch a national hous- ing program immediately. e@' To take steps to establish trade relations with China. The resolution said that these measures “could do much to ensure future prosperity in this and other districts.” British Columbia’s plowing champion for 1957 is Sven Swanson. At the Chilliwack Plowing Society’s annual match he scored 81.5 to the 80 points obtained by the run- ner-up, Tom Hickman, Third place was won by J. J. An- drews with 67 points. Swanson is now qualified to compete for the Canadian championship to be held in the east next fall. 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COMING EVENTS — CITY APRIL 20 — BUR NABE CABARET & DANCE at the VALLEYVIEW COMMUNI!LY CENTRE - — next door to the Municipal Hall on SATURDAY, April 20th at 9 p.m. Refreshments. Admission — $1.00. APRIL 26 ~ 2avuer'e BANQUET & DANCE at the SWEDISH HALL — 1320 E. Hastings St., FRIDAY, April 26th.Supper 7:30 p.m. Dancing 9 till 1. 4 piece orchestra. Banquet and Dance — $1.75. Dance only, 75c. Non bowlers welcome. — AFTER THE MEETING — Sea foods and refreshments. CLINTON HALL 2506 East Pender St. Auspices Dry Dock Press Club. M AY — LITTLE FOLK SINGERS in con- cert; One act play. Dance to a 5-piece orchestra. Refresh- ments. SATURDAY May 4th at 8 p.m. Clinton Hall 2605 East Pender St. Admission 75c. Pro- ceeds Press Drive. BUSINESS PERSONALS — YOUR HAIRCUT DOLLAR GOES TO THE PT PRESS DRIVE at Orpheum Bar- bers, 611 Smythe (near Sey- mour). SMOKE RECTOR CIGARS Only Union made cigars in Vancouver Sold at Hotels and at 214 UNION ST. (All hand rolled) 34 TRANSFER & MOVING Courteous, fast, efficient. Call NICK at GL. 4620 and HA. 57941. IWASTINGS BAKERIES LTD. —Scandinavian products a specialty. 716 East Hastings Street. Phone TA. 9719. 0.K. RADIO SERVICE — SERVICE, 1420 Pender St. Latest factory Brerie equipment used. MARINE West. TA. 1012. : PATRONIZE~ POLITANO’S BARBER SHOP — 204 Main St., 2 blks. north of Hastings. REGENT TAILORS LTD. — — Custom Tailors and Ready to wear. For personal ser- vice see Henry Rankin at 324 W. Hastings St., Van- couver 3. PAcific 8456. FOR SALE All things that grow need fer- . tilizing. Help yourself and the Pacific Tribune by pat- ronizing our advertiser. 5 bags of No. 1 chicken manuré (saw-dust litter) for $1.00. Bags supplied. TOTAL PRO- CEEDS TO PRESS DRIVE. Phone DE. 1489-M or call at 4525 Halley Ave. South Burnaby. HALLS FOR RENT RUSSIAN PEOPLE'S HOME Available for meetings, wed- dings, and banquets. at rea- sonable rates. 600 Campbell Ave. TA. 9939. CLINTON HALL, 2605 East Pender. Available for ban- quets, Weddings, Meetings: Etc. Phone HA. 3277. — PENDER AUDITORIUM (Marine Workers) 339 West Pender LARGE & SMALL HALLS FOR RENTALS: Phone PA, 9481 APRIL 19, 1957 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE 2 ——