SURPLUS CABBAGES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21899, 18 December 1945, Page 2

SURPLUS CABBAGES

DESTRUCTION CRITICISED

STOCK SHORT OF FEED

Strong criticism of the policy which allowed large areas of mature cabbage crops to be ploughed in by direction of the United States Joint Purchasing Board was expressed by Mr. A. H. Waterson, president of the Hawke’s Bay Commercial Gardeners' Society. “With stock short of feed in the present dry conditions the destruction of these crops, in the opinion of the society, is wilful waste.” said Mr. Waterson. “We, the growers, have urged that the cabbages be fed to stock, but apparently no notice has been taken of our proposal. We can do no more.”

Mr. Waterson added that if this was a normal season, with ample feed available, the loss of cabbage crops would not be so important, but in the present circumstances deliberate destruction called for a strong protest. Growers were only too willing to let stock have the feed to get the vegetables off their properties. “I want to emphasise that this action is not the fault of the Government," continued Mr. Waterson. “It is part of American policy. The Internal Marketing Division has done all in its power to find an outlet for the surplus, but normal public consumption would not take one-tenth of it. It is the fact that growers may not feed cabbages to stock that is causing dissatisfaction.” Under the terms of the contract with the United States Joint Purchasing Board the growers, who are receiving compensation, must destroy all crops not marketable.