Small-fruit Export Control Opposed

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31740, 25 July 1968, Page 22

Small-fruit Export Control Opposed

Fourteen fruit and vegetable firms have protested by telegram to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) against reported proposals to control exports of vegetables and small fruits. The firms—in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch—have asked for an opportunity to make representations before any changes are implemented.

This action was prompted by a newspaper report that Mr D. W. Goble, secretary of the New Zealand Vegetable and Produce Growers’ Federation, had said that unless some marketing authority was set up, the full potential of export development would not be realised. Mr Goble said a proposal for a statutory authority to direct and boost vegetable and berry-fruit exports would be placed before the National Development Council. The text of the telegram sent to the Prime Minister, is:— “We, the undersigned, ex-

I porters of onions and small t fruits, who have pioneered , and built up substantial ex- ■ port business without any ! assistance from Government, ■ strongly protest against and > oppose proposals for control s of exports of vegetables and f small fruits as outlined in t statement reported to have been made by secretary, I of New Zealand Vegetable > and Produce Growers’ FederaI tion, which was published in • ‘New Zealand Herald’ on I July 20. We ask that we be given full opportunity of maki ing representations to the , Government before any steps are taken to implement the • proposals as publicised.”