MARKET GARDEN INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23945, 12 May 1943, Page 2

MARKET GARDEN INDUSTRY

PRICE STABILISATION PLAN (0.R.) OAMARU, May jj Nationalisation of the market gar dening industry for the purposes of ' price stabilisation and co-ordination of distribution, with the possibility of con tract growing as an alternative to the demand for a maximum and minimum price (which is apparently not acceptable to the Government) is now in pro! gress, according to the info-mat l "? given to the representative of vYr»N> Press” to-day by Mr Ward Naish a ' prominent North Otago grower. R e . presentatives of the Internal Marketing Department during the last week have addressed meetings of commercial growers at Christchurch. Waimate, and Kakanui (North Otago), and although these have not been open to the press it is reported that preliminary Rations regarding the prices to operate as from July 1 have been opened “Apart from having to register under the Commercial Gardens Registration Act, growers in the various districts arc to form branches of the Commercial Gardeners’ Association," said Mr Naish. “so that, in (he future, there will be one body representative of all growers, which, we arc told, will simplify negotiations between the Government and the industry. The two representatives of the Marketing Department, Messrs Fitch and Greig, who addressed the Kakanui meeting, told us that the present prices would bS operative only until July 1, after which a new schedule would come i\% force.” Mr Naish explained that the departmental representatives had expressed the view that it was not desirable to have the press at the meetings, as any premature criticism would be harmful to the negotiations, and particularly as the North Island growers had yet to be interviewed. “The department is anxious to obtain the feeling of growers as to prices," concluded Mr Naish. “and after we have formed our branch of the growers’ organisation, resolutions governing prices will be sent forward as a recommendation from us.” The inaugural meeting to form i branch of the association is to be held at Totara on Thursday night.