FRUITGROWERS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 8 September 1930, Page 9

FRUITGROWERS.

MARKETING THE CROP. Afc a meeting of /the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association on Saturday evening. Mr E. Freeman presided* over n good attendance of members. Discussion centred about the work of the Committee of the New Zealand Fruit growers' Federation, which is conduct ing an enquiry into the packing and marketing of fruit in New Zealand. Mr P. W Sisson stated that the standardisation of the fruit for market, as proposed, was only the thin end of the wedge, and would ultimately lead to absolute control of fruit. Standardisation of fruit for the market was all very well, but when chore was n glut on the market, things would be different. Growers would find then that the greater part of their product, no matter how good it was ivould be classed as second grade. Fruit was a perishable product, and they were dependent on supply and dpmand. lie-was in favour of giving the inspectors the power to condemn bad fruit, as in fact they had at present, but he wanted no more control than that. v Mr Sisson moved: "That tho fruitgrowers of Canterbury dp not want any interference with the present system of marketing fruit." It was poiuted _out that the man who grow good fruit and who packed riood fruit had absolutely nothing to fear from tho system of standardisation, which applied to shopkeepers as well as to growers. A grower would still be able to dispose of his lower grades of fruit through tho hawkers. The motion was carried, with only one ..or two dissentient voices, and it was decided to send copies to Mr R. W. Efawkc, M.P., to the Minister concerned, and to the chairman of the committee-. Following this, a lecture was given by Mr G. Lawn, M.A.. Acting-Profes-sor of Economics, at Canterbury College, on the subject of "Protective Tariffs.''