FRUIT INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 64, 13 September 1943, Page 4

FRUIT INDUSTRY

NATIONAL PARTY PROMISE

P.A. NELSON, September 12. An audience of more than 700 packed the Theatre Royal, Nelson, On Saturday night to hear the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland). A loud-speaker system allowing those unable to get seats to listen in the street was installed. Mr, Holland was giyen a cordial reception. Referring to the National Party's intention to abolish the Internal Marketing Division, Mr. Holland gave an assurance that the party would not rub out anything without putting something better in its place. In connection with the distribution of fruit, an industry which he regarded as essential, he said that formerly there was much criticism of brokers, but today there were both the broker and the division, making two middlemenHe was assured by fruit growers that the present price given them was insufficient to cover the costs of production. He believed that the removal of the overhead costs created by the Internal Marketing Division would en» able fruit growers to receive a price which would cover their costs without increasing the price to the consumer. The National Party policy was to give the producer a guaranteed minimum price which would cover all costs. A vote of thanks was carried with three dissentients. '