FALSE PACKING

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 261, 4 August 1928, Page 13

FALSE PACKING

+ VEGETABLES AND ‘FRUIT STANDARDISATION NEEDED Replying to a deputation representing 'the Hutt Valley Producers’ Association, the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. O.*J. Hawken) yesterday said that it was m the best interests of (lie growers that false packing should be eliminated, and suggested that it might be advisable to put into practice a system of standardisation. The Minister said lie had every sympathy with (lie growers. He supposed that SO or 90 per cent, of the vegetables or garden produce sold in New Zealand were grown by Chinamen. He wanted to see the business takeu.up to a greater extent by white growers, although he had no objection to the Chinese, who had played a very useful part in the industry. The industry was undoubtedly growing in importance, and it was bisdesire to put it on a, good footing. A system of standardisation would have to be taken into consideration. If they had not standardised butter and other export produce, .they would have been losing millions of pounds to-day. In the end the grower always gained as a result of standardisation. There was nothing to be gained by deceiving the customer, who was entitled to get exactly what he wanted. The more customers they could get the better it would be for the growers. Under a system of standardisation the quality, of the goods put up at auction would be known, and everything would be open and above board.