APPLE AND PEAR CROP

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 13

APPLE AND PEAR CROP

Unauthorized Trading By

Growers WARNING BY MINISTER A warning that proceedings would be taken against fruit growers and retailers who failed to observe the marketing regulations was issued yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Barclay. He said that he regretted to have to draw public attention to the shortsighted attitude of certain fruit growers who intentionally or unintentionally were undermining the Government’s effort of assisting the fruit industry through its present crisis. These growers were engaging in illicit trade with the retailer on a basis calculated to harm the interests of their fellow orchurdists and to damage the Dominion’s war effort.

“It will bo recalled," said the Minister, “that the arrangement for the Government to purchase the apple and pear crop, and thus guarantee the welfare of the industry as a whole, was made at the request of the fruit-pick-ing organizations, and the whole of the marketing of apples and pears was subject to control under the Apple and Pear Marketing Regulations. 19-10, and the New Zealand-Grown Fruit Regulations. 1910. The Government, in undertaking the disposal of the whole crop, is incurring a considerable risk for the purpose of saving the industry from its wartime difficulties. “Despite these facts, it has come to my notice that certain individual growers are contravening the regulations by selling under-grade fruit to the public and effecting unauthorized sales to retailers, and in other ways interfering with the successful marketing of the main crop. In consequence it will be necessary for the Government to insist upon strict adherence to i lie regulations, both by growers and retailers, ami there will he no hesitation in authorizing the prosecution of any offenders.

“This step is not being taken with the idea of maintaining prices, as in fact Hie Government intends to make the fruit available to the consumer at the lowest possible cost : but no scheme of orderly marketing can succeed if certain growers are permitted to continue breaking the regulations. In fairness to the majority of orehardists who are faithfully complying with the regulations and co-operating with the department, the Government must see that practices bordering on sabotage should be suitably penalized.”