PRODUCE GROWERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 6, 7 July 1938, Page 10

PRODUCE GROWERS

PROBLEMS DISCUSSED

IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRY

MINISTER'S ADDRESS

"The tomato, soft fruit, and produce growers play a tremendous part in maintaining the health of the community," said the "Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) at the opening today of the annual conference of the Dominion council of the New Zealand tomato, berry fruit, and produce growers, over which Mr. C. E. Pope (Christchurch) presided. "From the nutritive aspect the supply of small fruit and vegetables Is of particular importance," continued the Minister, "and any organisation which has as its object the improvement of the market gardening industry deserves every encouragement." The Minister said that he. was pleased to attend the opening of the conference to give some indication of the interest he took in the industry. He was pleased also to see present a gathering representative of all parts of New Zealand and including their Chinese friends, whom he understood were present by invitation. All were concerned with the development of the industry and they could progress only by harmoniously working together. In the Dominion, continued the Minister, there were 5871 acres of market gardens, comprising approximately 1000 holdings. The value of the crops produced was about £1,000,000, and the transport costs on the railways amounted to about £50,000. Those figures gave some indication of the importance of the .industry. The Department of Agriculture had tried to assist the industry by appointing ail instructor in horticulture whose duty was to assist market gardeners, for it was the desire of the Government to give every aid possible in the increasing of efficiency. A great deal of attention was being given by the plant disease diyision of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to the problems of disease in fruit and vegetables. The Department of Agriculture had also tried to assist in providing facilities in the "Journal of Agriculture" for the needs of the industry in the dissemination of knowledge among growers. The journal had been revised and put upon a different basis from what it was when it was largely technical. Now it had become popularised, and most of the articles were written in plain language, so that everyone would understand what they were reading, instead of having to skip over all kinds of technical terms. The journal was up to date and existed for the use of those engaged in primary production. WAGE AGREEMENT. Growers had had some experience during the past season of the wage agreement that was entered into between the Minister of Labour and the industry, continued the Minister, who said that he personally was not fully aware of how the agreement was working as it did not come within his province. The conference, however, would no doubt discuss the matter, and if there were' any points which were thought worthy of representing either to s himself or to the Minister of Labour they would be glad to receive such representations. Referring to the standardisation of the quality of fruit and certain vegetables, the Minister said that the organisation of the market gardening industry was surrounded by tremendous difficulties, but the co-operation of the 'industry had been sought in the attempt to bring about some system that would be beneficial to the growers and at the same time result in more equal distribution and more valuable production. The Minister referred to the important part played by the seasons in the market gardening industry. The intimate knowledge, possessed by the delegates to the conference might well be of assistance in guiding' the Government. It was the desire of the Government, he said, that all those who rendered service should have a just reward. That had been the underlying principle in the policy which the Government had been putting into operation, but it was not easy of accomplishment. VITAL CONCERN. "I, as Minister of Agriculture, and my officers," said the Minister, "are vitally concerned in the industry, and we have tried as far as we have been able to render service to the industry. I know that some people have the idea that we have not done all we should have done, but it is not because we have not beeh desirous of doing that, but because of difficulties and complications associated with your industry." Conferences such as the present one, said the Minister, were of great value in assisting to bring about the organisation in the industry which was so desirable if it was to make progress. If there were any matters upon which the conference wished to make representations, the Government would be pleased to hear them and to give them due consideration.^ The Minister, was thanked by Mr. Pope. Mr. E: J. Fawcett, Acting Director-General of Agriculture, also spoke. .