FRUIT CONTROL BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 235, 3 October 1924, Page 12

FRUIT CONTROL BILL.

(To tho Editor.) Sir, —Much is being said by the very few who, in my opinion, favour the passage of the Fruit Control ißll. I am confident that 1 am voicing the ideas of the great majority of Auckland orchardists when I state that the proposed measure so far as local control is concerned is not required, further that it is impracticable, of a monopolistic nature, and altogether inequitable. It is impracticable, in that its promoters endeavour to overcome and set aside the natural law of supply and demand nnd create an artificial price in place of a. market value, thus automatically limiting the demand. Absolutely impracticable, in that, yvithout Dominion yvide control, supplies will always bo an unknown quantity.. It is monopolistic because it is proposed that a section of the pip-fruit growers should have placed in their hands, on a bare majority vote, poyver to yvreck the business of any distributing agency or retailer and substitute any system of selling yvhich theoretically may appear to them to bo better. It is inequitable for the reason that the orchard taxpayer yvith less than 120 trees is debarred from exercising his vote on the question of local control, also the groyver yvho has worked up a distributing business will have the fruits of his enterprise taken away from him if the Board so wills it, and be liable to a fine of £50 or six months' imprisonment if he continues to supply this connection. Standardisation of the quality of fruit is in my opinion the solution of the problem of overcoming J unremunerative prices. Not the at- ! tempted elimination of the small man ! or isolated orchardists. With uniform I grades of guaranteed quality, yvhich by j layv should be made compulsory, the : buyer would recognise the low * grade ' supply and pay a correspondingly low price or neglect it altogether, thus" fore- ; ing the careless or dishonest grower out of the business. Agitators are yvith us always, but not all those yvho agitate have taken the steps that others may have found to be wise to make their particular business a success. It is time that growers yvoke up to the state of affairs yvhich is threatened under the Bill, aud exerted thems.-lves to -cc that the Act does not go on the Statute Book.—l am, etc., L. DfXOX I Henderson. i