DOMINION MARK

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 292, 5 September 1931, Page 8

DOMINION MARK

Guarantee of Quality MARKETS FOR FRUIT Problems of Growers New Zealand fruitgrowers, like Dominion manufacturers, are desirous of setting up a scheme for a Dominion mark ..or label which shall be a guarantee as to the standard and quality of the article sold under it The problem of placing New Zealand fruit on the Dominion -markets has been exercising the minds-' of the Internal Sales Committee of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, and the results of its work during the past year were reported to the federation, conference, yesterday. J The report covered the steps: taken in regard to compulsory standardisation, which had been considered by a Parliamentary committee of inquiry but stated the committee was still awaiting Parliament’s decision,. So far the committee had been unsuccessful in obtaining any alteration to the Control Act. compulsory standardisation, and advertising. . ment had had favourable recommeiidaX tions from its committee, and there th# matter rested. ' • ■> -:> No Benefit Yet. Although the Parliamentary committee had handed to the House of Retire-, sentatives in October, 1930, its report on marketing methods and •' channels of; distribution from grower to. consumer, the' Internal Sales Committee stated it was not aware of a solitary beneficial effect of the Parliamentary committee’s work. There was urgent need for making a combined effort to remedy the existing chaotic state of the local .markets, but the growers were faced with a. most difficult position. If they had control of the frjiit in their own hands they could take ad 2 vantage of the Local Control Act to'brinjt in compulsory • standardisation ‘; and advertising in such, manner as they thought fit. but now they had to recognise that Parliament would evidently not give,-the necessary power to amend the Act. .; Voluntary Scheme. Seeing that the growers had arrived a€ a position that appeared insurmountable, it was the opinion of the committee that they should temporarily jettison ..their ideas •of compulsory methods and resort to those of a voluntary nature, They might adopt the suggestion of g. fair marketing organisation, or carry on with, the Dominion mark scheme. The latter was a purely voluntary one, and those who wished to . make use of it would'do' so by purchasing labels to be placed on. their cases, which would signify that'the package was what it purported to ba. Failure would involve prohibition of the use of the mark by. the grower concerned: In conclusion, ,tiie. report , stated that: a decided step in advance would have been taken if the federation accepted as part of its duties the business of attending to local sales, as it would become'an. integral part of its activities. The report was adopted, and the following resolutions were carried:—.. “That this conference is of the opinion that the Internal Sales Committee be not re-elected, and that it be a recommendation to the Federal Board that they-take up the administration of the Dominion mark scheme as part of the duties of the federation. ■ • ."• ' ■ “That the directors - make another strenuous effort to secure the legislation necessary tor compulsory standardisation, and the alteration of the voting basis in the Act relating to local control”- . •,