INQUIRY ENDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20620, 22 November 1941, Page 6

INQUIRY ENDS

VEGETABLE PRICES SURVEY OF MARKETING CHANGES RECOMMENDED (For Presß Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Price Tribunal, which is inquiring into vegetable prices, yesterday heard a survey on the marketing of vegetables given by Mr. D. K. Pritchard, instructor in vegetable culture of the Department of Agriculture. In this several recommendations were made as to the means of assuring growers an adequate return, and at the same time lowering prices to the consumer. Mr. Pritchard drew the attention of the tribunal to the fact that in 1912 a Royal Commission had inquired into the cost of living when exactly the same causes as had been mentioned in the present inquiry had been advanced. The evidence presented by Mr. Pritchard and Mr. G. R. Holmes, a senior officer of the fields division, who dealt principally with the marketing of onions, concluded the hearing which had occupied six days. , .

Many Written Statements

The chairman thanked the organisations which had been represented for the care they had taken in compiling their evidence. He said that 50 to 60 written statements had been received from various parts of New Zealand. These would be considered by the tribunal who would send their report to the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. S. Sullivan. The chairman mentioned that tire press reports had been valuable from a public point of view and very useful to him as day-to-day summaries. Any discussion on the marketing cf vegetables, with a view to economy in sale and distribution must be on the basis of the locations and convenience of the existing market structures and the present marketing methods, said Mr. Pritchard. He considered that the markets in Welling; ton, Christchurch, and Dunedin were located in inconvenient positions. New sites f(jr produce markets in these centres were essential following which improvements for unload; ing produce and the reloading of it by the retailers could be considered.

Mr. Pritchard summarised the marketing of vegetables as including harvesting, grading, containers, packtransportation and selling (auction, retail and co-operative). Transportation was a definite factor in the cost of vegetables to the consumer, said Mr. Pritchard, and also had an effect on supplies. Dairy Farm Cropping

Referring to methods for increasing vegetable production, Mr. Pritchard suggested that cropping on dairy farms might be adopted with advantage to the farmer and the consumer. He also urged the placing of trained and experienced returned soldiers on areas suitable for mixed farming and the inauguration of an extensive scheme of education in home gardening for vegetable production.

Dealing with distribution, Mr. Pritchard said that if receiving aPd delivery charges were abolished, the rate of commission reduced and transportation methods overhauled, without impairing the efficiency oi the service rendered, the saving iri costs to the grower would be considerable, but there was no guarantee that prices to the consumer would be reduced to effect a lowering of prices of the vegetables to the consumer.

Mr. Pritchard said it seemed that the present number of auctioneering firms must be reduced, and that those permitted to remain in business must organise the disposal of vegetable produce on a co-operative basis