APRICOT CROP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 54, 5 March 1943, Page 2

APRICOT CROP

A "CEILING" PRICE

COMPLAINTS FROM OTAGO (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The procedure adopted by the Internal Marketing Division in connection with 50 per cent of the Central Otago apricot crop was described as a "bungle" by Mr. Bodkin (National, Central Otago) in the House of Representatives yesterday when speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate. "As a result of this 'bungle,'" he said "there waS a tremendous amount of fruit lost."

Right at the peak of the season, said Mr. Bodkin, the growers had been told by the Department that it required 50 per cent of the crop and that it pro'posed to single out apricots for the fixing of a ceiling price. Amazing as it might seem, the Internal Marketing Department had made its demand before the canner3 and packers were approached, with the result that these people were caught completely unaware. No officer of the Department had thought fit to consult them.

The stone fruit growers from the outset, Mr. Bodkin added, had recognised that Government control of their .product would mean disaster. They had opposed it consistently All they asked for was to be left alone. The Minister could not interfere with the crop on the plea that he was going to the rescue of the growers. Mr. Barclay said ne had not had a single complaint from the growers. "A single complaint," retorted Mr. Bodkin. "I was inundated with them. The Department could not have supplied the Minister with copies of the complaints." "The Internal Marketing Division is the salvage corps for private enterprise," said Mr. Roberts (Government, Wairarapa), and he paid a tribute to the officers of the division. He contended that if the division had not been a storm centre of political animosity in days gone by the remarks of the previous speaker would have been more sincere, than they were.