Search Right Confirmed

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32394, 5 September 1970, Page 44

Search Right Confirmed

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 4. Staff of the Apple and Pear Marketing Board will be given powers to enter and search premises and vehicles in order to combat black marketing of apples and pears, it was confirmed in Parliament today.

However, the inspectors will not have the right to enter dwellings. Replying to a question from Mr W. W. Freer (Lab., Mt Albert), the Acting Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mac-

Intyre), said the new entry and search powers would be contained in a revision and consolidation of legislation on apple and pear marketing which had been under action for several years. A bill would probably be introduced soon. The Minister said it was common knowledge that illegal marketing of apples and pears was rampant in some areas. “Grower, wholesaler, and retailer organisations alike have been pressing publicly for the apple and Pear Board to do more to stop it,” he said. “The board does what it can, but its powers are very limited, and the law is being openly flouted. “It is proposed that the bill

should give the board’s staff the right to enter and inspect premises and vehicles but only when they have reasonable grounds to believe that fruit is held there for the purpose of illegal sale. There would be no right to enter dwellings.” Mr Maclntyre said this was a reasonable provision which had long been pressed for, and the industry had been warned that such powers were given sparingly by the Government and must be exercised judiciously, tactfully, and solely within the spirit and the letter of the law. “The legislation is not drastic, and will affect only those whom there is reason to believe and deliberately breaking the law,” he said.