UNFAIR PACKING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19888, 27 March 1930, Page 13

UNFAIR PACKING.

GROWERS AND RETAILERS COMPLAIN.

MINISTER PROMISES REDRESS

[THE PEESS Special Service.J ; WELLINGTON, March 26. Plain illustrations of the means adopted by some people to flout the law, which requires fruit and vegetables on the top of a container to be a fair sample of what is below were, brought before the notice of the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. G-. W. Forties) to-day ny a member of a deputation representing fruit and vegetable producers and retailers.. Complant was made by Mr J. W. Ransom that the present system of- inspection of fruit and vegetables was totally inadequate. This was especially' so in Auckland, where a paid official was employed to protect retail ests. . -. In support of the complaint Mr C. Elford opened up on tlie Minister's desk an array of vegetables of various sorts, first displaying the sample given on the top and then the class of produce found underneath. Potatoes, swede turnips, carrots, etc., of widely differing size and quality were shown in support of the contention that some producers packed their produce in a dishonest way, displaying the best on the top and conoealing useless vegetables in the lower strata. • "We ' feel,"' said Mr Elford, '"that the inspectors who go to the markets have not been a success. The system has been in operation for two years, and we feel we have a just case. The public, are l>eing exploited." •Mr C. 11. Chapman, M.P.: Is this a general practice? Mr Elford: Oh. ves, it is common". ;Mr Chapman : These are not exertional examples V Giving a negative reply Mr Elford said that all "the vegetables he was displaying had been bought this week. The Minister: Wha,t does the inspector do? Mr Elford: He simply inspects the fruit on the top is not anxious to dirty his clothes, and 1 don t blame ■ him. Ha went on to explain how, by the use of a kerosene tin, which was subsequently withdrawn; • sacks were ' filled with large potatoes outside, and ones inside- . . .. ™ "It's quite an art," Mr Forbes observed amidst laughter. . • Replying to the deputation , the Minister said that apparently producers, were responsible for such evasions

of what the law required. "I think it is a matter that ought to be put down very firmly," he said. "It is false packing." Mr P. Ffaser," M.P.: Of course the average producer does not use any honest methods. Mr Forbes: That is so. There is no doubt about it. It is a fraud and a very nasty one at- that. 1 shall go, ir;to the matter of inspection immediately and. see how it is, that our system' is such as to permit that sort of thing and how we can check it. A- mem let of the deputation said he did not want to see' the inspectoi-s "get a blast." It was impossible for them to handle every sack. They had other duties to perform and they "could not be in the market every day. He suggested that an inspector should be permanently stationed in the market so that if there was any complaint it could be referred to him at once.', Mr Forties agreed with the necessity for standardisation and also added that it seemed to him more inspection, was required if' the' fraud was- a com-, mon practice . '