PRICE OF ESSENTIAL FOODS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23891, 9 March 1943, Page 4

PRICE OF ESSENTIAL FOODS

MRS GRIGG SEEKS INVESTIGATION MARKETING DIVISION’S PROFITS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. March 8. The operations of the Internal Marketing Division were criticised by Mrs A. N. Grigg (National, Mid-Canter-bury) in the House of Representatives to-night, when she made a plea for the investigation of supplies and prices of essential health foods, such as fruit an'd vegetables, suggesting that a committee be set up for the purpose, with some women representatives. Women realised, she said, that some shortages and deprivations were inevitable, but the present position was far from satisfactory. She had received letters from all over New Zealand expressing grave discontent. Mrs Grigg. said she was concerned about the plight of the people oh poorer incomes, who had to be heiped, but she did not think the women would mind the high prices so much, if producers were receiving payable prices, thereby encouraging greater production. Mrs Grigg referred to reports of waste fruit rotting on the ground and citrus trees being pulled up. She also commented on increased costs which had to be borne by the consumers. The costs of the Internal Marketing Division were super-imposed on the costs of cartage, brokerage, wharfage, and such. The division’s gross profit in 1940-41 was more than £IOO,OOO, and for the 11 months of 1941-42 £94,000, this being the price which consumers had to pay for the privilege of having a division. It seemed to her that the profits amounted only to a concealed The situation might be improved if freight were reduced on fruit and vegetables, which were essential foodstuffs, if local producers were allowed to supply local markets, and if marketing was handled by experts. Suggesting the establishment of a committee to investigate, Mrs Grigg said women should definitely be represented, because they were the ones who had to handle the household budget, and knew what real wages meant. Mr J. Thorn (Labour, Thames) said that if the Internal Marketing Division were to be condemned, it should be condemned on mishandling commodities it dealt with, not those for which it had no responsibility. For instance, it did not handle plums, peaches, New Zealand-grown oranges, grapefruit, or vegetables. These commodities were controlled by private enterprise, and high prices were attributable to the present auctioning system, operating on a market which was short of supplies. He complimented the division on its handling of apples and pears and lemons. The debate was continued by Mr D. W. Coleman (Labour, Gisborne) and the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, and was interrupted by the adjournment at 10.30 p.m. The House rose until 2.30 tomorrow.