Govt attacked over peas

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32700, 1 September 1971, Page 2

Govt attacked over peas

(New Zealand Press Association? WELLINGTON, August 31. Opposition speakers today criticised the Government for not bringing pea growers and food processors together to reach agreement on the price to be paid for this season’s crop. The remarks were made during discussion on the Estimates of the Department of Agriculture.

Sir Basil Arthur (Lab., Timaru) said that the growers wanted the Government to provide the means for appointing an arbitrator to hear the growers’ claims for increased pea prices from the processors.

It was all very well for the Government to tell the growers to grow something other than peas, Sir Basil Arthur said. Pea growing had become an established part of farming for many people, and it was not easy to change to something else. Mr I. J. Brooks (Lab., Marlborough) said that pea growers in Marlborough were troubled and concerned about the failure to get increased prices. They had been receiving 2jc.per lb from the processors for about 10 years, despite increased costs. Many fanners could not afford not to grow peas to A

supplement their incomes, Mr Brooks said.

The Under-Secretary for Agriculture (Mr Dick) said an inter-departmental committee had considered the growers’ request in 1969, and had reported against legislation.

During the last 12 months he had called the growers and processors together on several occasions to talk about prices. “My belief is that agreement should be arrived at by direct negotiation between the growers and the processors, without Government intervention,” Mr Dick said.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Carter) said the growers had sought legislation to force the processors to get round the table to negotiate an agreement on prices. “This we would not do,” he said.