GROWERS EXTEND OPERATIONS IN CONTAINER WAR

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1949, Page 4

GROWERS EXTEND OPERATIONS IN CONTAINER WAR

P.A. WELLINGTON, Feb. 21. “The boycotting of perishable vegetables is war, and the growers, this time, are determined to settle this, once and fo,r all,” said the president of the Dominion Council of Commercial Growers, Mr B. V. Cooksley today. “The growers will agree to a tribunal to settle the container charge dispute, but it must have legal backing, so that civil action can be taken against breaches.” The secretary of the Federated Farmers, Mr A. P. O’Shea, said today, following a conference with the growers, that the farmers would assist that by bringing truckloads of their produce for the street sales in Wellington city and suburbs. RETAILERS SEND BUYERS INTO THE COUNTRY The retailers are sending buyers to make “on the spot” purchases of vegetables and fruit in the country. Announcing this to-day, Mr S. Chesney, the secretary of the Wellington branch of the Federation of N.Z. Retail Fruiterers and Greengrocers, said that a team of buyers, had operated throughout the North Island at the week-end. He hoped that all. of the shops would be stocked next weekend. • ■ GROWERS’ CAMPAIGN The Dominion president of the Commercial Growers or New Zealand (Mr B. V. Cooksley) said that accommodation for sellers would be a problem. Billeting might be used; otherwise camping gear would be sought. Growers up-country would load their trucks with produce and what extra Help they could spare, come into Wellington, tiqn their trucks into sale depots, and then keep them stocked with supplies sent by transport operators oi* rail. “The fact that we have the vegetables the housewife wants gives growers the initiative,” said Mr cooksley. "The cash received from the sale of our produce gives us the sinews of war. Boycott is war and the growers this time are determined to settle this once and for all.” Mr Cooksley said ’Christchurch auctioneers were selling to the public in any way they wanted and had stated they were willing to keep open till the markets were cleared. The dispute in Auckland over fruit and vegetable container charges was not settled during the week-end and growers intend to redouble their efforts to sell direct to the public from motor trucks.

About 100 growers will be manning trucks, which will be brought into the city to-morrow. They will later carry fruit and vegetables to the suburbs under a system of zoning. Mr Chesney said that numerous growers between Wellington and uhakune had intimated that they were sending produce to Wellington without container charges. Some was already on the way. Nelson Growers Support Figk of N.Z. Organisation P.A. NELSON, Feb. 21 Unanimous endorsement of the manner in which the container dispute was being handled by the Dominion Council of the Commercial Growers’ Organisations was given at a large meeting of vegetable, tomato, and stone fruit growers held at Richmond. The meeting was strongly in favour of a motion, supported by the Nelson Tomato Growers’ Association, asking that every tomato grower in the district endorse his advice notes to the brokers to the effect that the container charge was to be enforced. The meeting decided to ask that a direct motor service should be established to carry produce from Nelson to Christchurch to eliminate the delay in the delivery of perishable produce. Wanganui Growers Have a Win . P.A. WANGANUI, Feb. 21 Fruit and vegetable growers will sell produce in the streets here as from to-mo’rrow, thus taking the same stand as the growers in Wellington, Auckland and elsewhere in regard to the dispute which has arisen with the retailers over the price charged for containers. Of significance here is the fact that the Wanganui Master Grocers’ Association has decided to pay revised container charges, which have operated as from to-day. The W’anganui branch of the Retail Fruiterers’ and Greengrocers' Association, however, remains firm in its decision not to pay the charges. The president of the Master Grocers’ Association, Mr F. A. Beattie, said that his executive to-day had decided that, though the trade was opposed to contained charges in principle, the members be recommended to pay revised charges of one penny for a twelve pound case; sixpence for a twenty pounds case, and threepence for sugarbags and for sacks. These charges came into operation to-day, pending a review by a competent tribunal.