ONION REGULATIONS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 160, 3 April 1937, Page 13

ONION REGULATIONS

Growers Dissatisfied

CHRISTCHURCH MEETING By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch. April 2. Because the recent marketing regulations are said to have hampered trade to the point of total restriction, Canterbury’s onion crop is scarcely touched bv the merchants. To-day growers from' all parts of the province conferred with representatives of the merchants and drafted suggested amendments to the regulations, and these they are urging the Government to adopt. in particular the growers and merchains alike seek the lifting of the per cent, restriction on merchants protits and the abolition of the clause permitting growers to consign their crops. “The recent regulations governing the marketing of this year’s onion crop seem to have found very little favour with the growers,” said a statement issued after today’s meeting. the growers are of the opinion that marketing has never been in a more hopeless condition. The regulations are regarded as having made it impossible for merchants to deal in onions, as the TA per cent, commission allowed them is insufficient to cover the cost of marketing operations. “The grades fixed for onions are considered to be based on insufficient knowledge of the onion crop, and the regulations on the whole are roundly condemned as being irritating without being of any benefit to the growers, who do not know what to do with their crops. The growers do not think there is any chance of the merchants purchasing their onions in any quantity under the present circumstances, as they cannot be expected to deal in a commodity that is going to place them on the wrong side of the ledger. “The opinion of the growers i.s that the regulations, with the exception of one or two clauses, should be_ wiped out. and a minimum price of £5/5/- a ton fixed for the onions.” After the meeting Mr. H. S. S. Kyle, 51. D., sent a telegram to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, who announced the regulations, stating that there was much dissatisfaction among growers and suggesting that tlie existing regulations be cancelled and proposed amendments gazetted immediately. In reply, Mr. Kyle received ,a telegram from Mr. Sullivan stating that the regulations were not in his sphere and that he whs referring the message to the Minister of Agriculture. Hon. \V. Lee Martin.