AID FOR PRODUCERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 100, 29 April 1937, Page 10

AID FOR PRODUCERS.

PROPOSED FORM OF CONTROL

NEED FOR ELASTICITY.

The committee is of the opinion that] first consideration in efforts to improve i the producers' position must be given j to the questions of sound and honest ( grading and packing of the goods intended for sale, and ordered and regulated marketing as far as the latter is found to be practicable in dealing with a large number of small or comparatively small producers, anidi having regard to the diversity of their activities. The process must be more or less gradual and follow the education of the producers concerned and. have their general cooperation. In . the meantime, the aim of the committee is to suggest machinery j for improved packing " and marketing sufficiently specific and complete to be applied when considered desirable to any group of producers or to any particular commodity and, at the same time, sufficiently wide to cover the whole of our fruit and vegetable products when that course becomes necessary.

It is felt that elasticity of a control aystem would be preferable to a universal system applying equally to all producers of a particular commodity without variation to meet the different conditions obtaining. The committee is of opinion that such a control system could be devised by the whole of our horticultural industries being brought formally under the control of the Primary Products Marketing Department, , and it recommends to the Government that such action be taken.

The committee further recommends the appointment by that Department of a Director of Fruit Marketing for the purpose, inter alia, of advising it on all problems relative to the marketing of all horticultural produce, including, the desirability of the Department assuming in due course something more than the formal control of the marketing of any particular commodity and the extent to which such control, partial or general, should be exercised. While it is hoped that the support of producers' would largely govern the establishment of any marketing authority> the committee is of the opinion that, should the . lack of unanimity among any set of producers lead to delay in the setting up> of such an authority, summary powers .to establish such an organisation should: be gived to the Marketing Department. '

i Such local marketing authorities should be free, subject to , the" wishes and approval' of the Marketing Department, to determine the extent to which ; they assume control of the' marketing of the' commodity with Which they are concerned and the J conditions under which-such marketing shall be conducted, ' such as standardisation, where such has not been made necessary ,bv law, and pooling according to variety and grade, etc.

While the committee is not recommending the immediate establishment of marketing authorities in connection with the whole of our horticultural activities, excepting in a few instances, the machinery will exist whereby such authorities can be established at ahy time the producers concerned, or ithe .Department,, feel that .their interests will be best served by so doirg.