“PIRACY” CHARGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19994, 20 July 1939, Page 16

“PIRACY” CHARGE

MARKET GARDEN PRODUCE "BACKYARD" GROWERS FARMERS CRITICISED REGISTRATION SOUGHT (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. There was “piracy” to a considerable degree as far as market gardeners in his district were concerned, said Mr. J. J. Hume, Manawatu, when, the compulsory registration of growers was being discussed at the annual conference in Wellington yesterday of the Dominion council of commercial gardeners. There were certain primary producers in other branches, such as dairy farming, who went in for vegetables at a time when they were easy to raise and when it was also easy to produce a glut on the market. There was an instance last year di several farmers who sowed an area in peas, intending, if the -crop was not good or prices- low, to thresh it and use it for fodder. Peas were Is 9d a peck the day before the peas from this crop were put on the market. The price went down to Is 3d with -their appearance. This was ‘‘piracy” from a section of the “primary producers which enjoyed at least some protection in-the form of a guarantee of their expenses and the cost of production. This the commercial growers did not get. Compulsory Registration

. Mr. J. C. McDowall, New Plymouth, said that Taranaki growers supported compulsory registration and wanted “backyard” growers included with the 40-hour week. There was even greater competition from this section. He knew of instances of borough council employees on £6 a week competing with growers at uneconomic prices.

Without registration there could be no control over grading or the class of produce placed in the markets, said Mr. £. Scarrott, Bay View. He had seen tomatoes put. on the market which a proper grower would not place in 'his shed. They were called sauce tomatoes, but if a grower gave them to his wife for this purpose they would get a sharp rejection. A Franklin delegate said there were dairy farmers who used their employees to grow potatoes and other vegetables in their spare time, and their produce did not make the grade. There were men on large salaries also competing with bona fide growers. Potatoes sent’ in by these sections were frequently'dug too soon, and the auctioneers did not want them. Mr. Robertson, Auckland, said that registration would prevent the present practice of the Chinese and other Asiatics in sending in produce to the markets under different names. Applicatiin of Labour Laws The president, Mr. B. V. Cooksley, said they did not want to prevent anyone growing vegetables for marketing. He wanted this to be clear. All they desired was that all growers should conform to the same sets of regulations and labour laws. Registration was also important -because the Department of Labour could not apply labour laws if it did not know who .lie growers were. In the same way the Department of Agriculture could not check growers of pests, and so on, :f they did not know who and where ‘hey were.

Mr. Copping, Levin, said that registration. was essential in the case of a national emergency. - Mr. H. E. Combs, M.P. for Wellington Suburbs, said that registration would work in the direction of giving the .public a bet’er article and it woul allow control of the industry. He favoured organisation of the employer and the employee. It brought about better conditions on both sides. On the motion of Mr. C. E. Poor;, Christchurch, it was decided that tV conference affirm the principle ut egistration of all growers and urge the Government to take steps to secure this at the earliest possible date.