MARKETING OF FRUIT

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23263, 25 February 1941, Page 12

MARKETING OF FRUIT

!# GROWERS’ COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT’S ACTIVITIES CRITICISED “If the Minister is really looking for sabotage let him examine the work of his own Marketing Department,” Mr H. R. Sampson, South Island representative of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, said in reply to the statement by the Hon. J, G. Barclay that a few illicit sales by apple growers was sabotaging the Government’s marketing scheme. Mr Sampson characterised the statement as absurd. “Growers are fighting for a living, and as far as possible they want to be paid the value of their fruit,” Mr Sampson said. “Probably very little undergrade fruit is sold, and in any case the consumer sees what he gets. Perhaps there was never more undergrade fruit sold in Christchurch than that sold from cool store by the Government from August to December last year.” Suggesting that the Minister should examine the operations of the Marketing Department, Mr Sampson asked: “Why was it necessary to send an official from Wellington to ask Rangiora retailers if they would • like to take their requirements off the Xoburn lorry instead of travelling to Christchurch for their fruit, when the local officials could have made this arrangement? And why must the Christchurch broker receive commission on such a ‘sale’? Why must the Marketing Department pay commission on selling fruit to the Army when in fact many apples and pears' are sold to the de-

partment for its canteens? In other words, the department pays commission on sales to itself. And why is it necessary to pay a Christchurch shipping firm something in the nature of an allocation fee for deciding the supplies each broker shall receive from the department? And. if the Minister is still looking for sabotage, why are growers compelled to use unnecessary case lining cardboard and wrapping •paper when there is a definite shortage of those supplies?” Growers had to beg halfpennies from the Government but all others selling and distributing fruit received full payment, Mr Sampson said-. The uprooting of orchards throughout the Dominion suggested that the Government’s, scheme was sabotaging the whole industry.