Free Fruit Market In N.Z. Urged

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 16

Free Fruit Market In N.Z. Urged

(Neu; Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 9. Freedom from control was long overdue to the consumer, said the New Zealand Federation of Retail Fruiterers and Greengrocers in submissions to the committee of inquiry into apple and. pear marketing at its hearing in Wellington today. Mr M. J. Beasley, president of the federation, presented the submissions. They included a suggestion for free marketing of apples and pears with the local market moving from a controlled to a free basis and the Apple and Pear Board continuing to handle all exports as at present.

Quality would improve, because incentive would return to the grower. Consumers who bought from a retailer would have the right of choice restored to them. The federation’s sincere belief was that elimination of the board’s mismanagement would give the grower a greater return yet not increase the consumer’s purchasing prices. They could be even lower. The constant stigma of black marketing associated with the trade would vanish. The reminder was given that growers had said they could not continue without black marketing. Too many of the soft varieties of apples were grown. If production of these increased, whoever faced the ultimate marketing of them would have to be prepared to accept a lesser price than had been the custom in the past. They must be sold early. Colour and grading would need ' to improve if consumer sales were to be attracted. Increase in William Bon Chretien pears should not be

allowed to overtake demand. Not enough of the best selling varieties, such as Winter Cole and Winter Nellis were retained for the New Zealand market More should be grown. Too many odd varieties were still grown, and met no demand. They never would be popular. Wastage continued, in spite of cool stores and modern methods of handling. Ways to eliminate this were listed. The board’s wastage was something of a blot on the country. Advertising done by the Apple and Pear Board was considered not always fair or always necessary. Fruit offered sometimes in the board’s case sales schemes would at times not even pay the cost of the fruit. Much of the board’s advertising had been completely wasted. The board’s only major success had been to build cool stores. The federation called on the committee to recommend at its earliest opportunity that the Government instruct the Apple and Pear Board to cease forthwith direct selling to chain stores.