GROW MORE FRUIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 137, 11 June 1926, Page 7

GROW MORE FRUIT.

HUGE BRITISH MARKET. VOLUNTARY PREFERRED. EXPERT COMMITTEE'S ADVICE. ißy Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright.) LONDON. June 10. The Imperial Economic Committee in its report on the supply of fruit in Great Britain says it considered three policies with a view to defending and I c developing the fruit industries of the i Empire. It could not recommend j. schemes of embargo and license owing ] to the limitations imposed by the most- : favoured-nation clauses in various treaties. ' : According to the decision of the Im- | perial Conference of 1923 the policy of j. Customs preferences does not come j within the purview of the committee. Therefore the only policy which seems to be immediately available is a policy of developins voluntary preference on the part of the consumer, based on the organisation of Empire producers and | the mobilisation of United Kingdom | consumers. Continuing, the report says the com-; mittee considers the representation ofj Empire Producers' organisations in the j United Kingdom as pivotal to the whole { scheme of Empire marketing organisation. The interests of overseas producers in the United Kingdom should be watched by an efficient apent of his organisation, who should also keep the | producers informed of the requirements j of the market. COST OF DISTRIBUTION. j The system of identincation of origin j carried with it a liability to a loss as , well as to a gain of goodwill. L nder t the present system the averaee cost of distributing imported fresh fruit within the United Kingdom about equals the | entire cost of growing, carrying and handling, up to and including the primary sale in the United Kinedom. i This matter should be dealt with by j the Food Council. It is of great impor- j tance to the consumer in the Lnited; Kingdom and to the overseas producer; that there should be a mobilisation of : consumers. "We must depend on providing «nch indications of origin that the consumer ; may have a means of exerci.-ing volun- ! tary preference." says the report. "Also we must depend on educative publicity leading the consumer to see that it is in his own business interest, apart from all sentiment, to buy from I hi? own best customers.'' In regard to research the report laystress on the need for economic as well ac scientific investigation. Tt says: "There are at present difficulties in the way of financing the transport of fruit owing to its possible deterioration in transit and in storage. If neoeseary we should ascertain and reduce these risks, which must be covered by insurance, before the financing of fruit can be carried on as easily a? the financing of less perishable commodities. AN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE. The executive commission, which it is proposed should be established. will organise and operate a campaign of J educative publicity. It seems to be desirable that this commission should have the advantage of the advire nf sub-committees, to i>r> oraanisod on a commodity basis. Though the actual publicity will doubtless be supervised by a committee consisting partly of experienced men. the commission will provide an intelligence service in order to obtain the best information regardins forthcoming supplies as a basis for publicity, and will promptly inform Empire producers. "In resard to competing supplies the commission will undertake the direction, co-ordination and assistance of research at Home and overseas. ■•The commission will carry out economic as well as scientific research by the collection of data in regard to deterioration of fruit in transit and similar problems. "The commission will include the interests of the Home producer in so far as its functions are applicable to his case. If it is decided that the Imperial Economic Committee shall continue to <»\ist for the purpose of advising the Empire Government* it will bn nrcf-s.-iry to consider the relations of the commU.-ion toward the committee. The i-omm:--ion might W chareeil with th* , duty of experimenting on behalf of the ■ I committi'p in cjispp where larsrer schemep I arp deferred ponding the results of preliminary aptinii."' The report emphasises that orennisaI rinn almie will not -uffi.-r. to combat tin l ' advantage conferred on the United ■ ; ~-tatc= by i r « srrei* protected home , J market. ft atroncly supports closer J I organisation of fruirsrrower* and insist? ■ 1 upon srraflinst anil packing standard* i beins strictly m.iintainp<i at the point i' of export. I* recrnimends *i< , Governi j mpnts to ;i~-i.-;T rinanciallv m>! otherlj --vise tn that mil.—i A. and X.Z. I