FRUIT INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 264, 4 August 1937, Page 10

FRUIT INDUSTRY

State Direction, Not State Control GOVERNMENT’S AIM Legislation For Next Session The Government is aiming at State direction, rather than State control, of the fruit industry, the Acting-Minis-ter of Marketing, Hon. W. Lee Martin, told the annual conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation and the Fruit-Export Control Board at Wellington yesterday. Cabinet, after considering the findings of the Fruit Marketing Committee, had decided to put its major recommendations into effect by amending the primary products marketing legislation. "At first sight this may appear to envisage complete control of your industry, but I can assure you that, although such power will be incorporated in the Act, it is not the Government’s intention to take such control, but rather to vest the responsibility in the hands of those engaged in the industry, unless, of course, an’ extreme emergency arises,” said the Minister. “It must be recognised, however, that any voluntary scheme of reorganisation would be bound to fail unless compulsory powers in the form of suitable legislation were available. Not only has Cabinet approved of the drafting of this legislation for presentation to Parliament at the forthcoming session, but it has also arranged for your industry to be supervised by the Director of Internal Marketing, Mr. F. R. Picot.” It was intended that the report of the Fruit Marketing Committee should serve as the guide book for the industry, but, before any of the recommendations were given effect to, they would be studied in the light of changing conditions and as to their practicability. The report represented an ideal, which could be attained only after many years of gradual change or evolution. Marketing of Lemons. The — ’mister went on to refer to the organisation of the .marketing of . lemons, by co-ordinating the activities of the three co-operative lemon-curing and packing associations at Keri Keri, Auckland and Tauranga respectively. This scheme was nearing completion . and should result iu the more orderly marketing of New Zealand-grown lemons within the Dominion. In addition, a considerable amount of time had been spent in arranging for factory supplies and prices for the comi ing season between various interests and growers. These were purely j voluntary efforts, until the necessary legislation was brought down, but the . Minister felt that a great deal could be i achieved in this way. "The department is also vitally in terested in all matters pertaining to wage and labour conditions in the industry, and is ready to help with any ’ problems connected therewith, as any action that affects production costs must necessarily have a direct bearing , on the profitable marketing of your produce,” the Minister said.