MARKETING OF FRUIT

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 12 September 1930, Page 5

MARKETING OF FRUIT

ST AND A RDTSATION FAV OUR-ED

SUGGESTED LEGISLATION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 11. The investigation into, the marketing of fruit and vegetables by the Industries and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives was continued to-day. Mr J. N. Massey, M.P., appeared on behalf of Pukekohe onion growers. He said the estimated cost of production was over £69 per acre, and the yield about 16 tons to the acre. The growers sought adequate protection against imported onions, especially from America, which placed a heavy duty on New Zealand products. Air D. G. Sullivan: What do the growers want? Mr Massey: They have recently been given £4 10s against American and Japanese onions. I think they are satisfied. He considered a sliding scale would be more satisfactory. Sufficient onions could be grown in New Zealand to supply all the requirements of the ; Dominion. Air R. W. Hawke, M.P., representing Canterbury vegetable growers, said that figures of production in the north were little higher than figures for the south, as they did not require to use so much manure. There was a very wide difference between the price they sold for and the price paid by the consumer. Growers in Christchurch considered that one of the reasons for the disparity between tlie price the producer received and the price paid by the consumer was the high rents paid by shops in the centre of the city. That was the reason why they wanted direct auction sales. Mr S. J. Smith, Secretary for the Cook Islands, summarised as follows tlie directions in which improvements were necessary before Cook Islands fruit could be placed in the New Zealand markets iu guaranteed good condition: (1) Improvement in the condition of island oranges for export to ensure that they will carry to New Zealand markets and hold their condition through tlie retailer to the consumer; (2) proper provision on mail steamers for the carriage of perishable cargoes from Raratonga to New Zealand; (3) the provision of a ship with cool storage accommodation for the carriage of oranges from the outer Cook Islands; (4) a wider direct distribution throughout the Dominion instead of concentration into one port, or as an alternative a proper system of steamer connections from Auckland for southern ports having proper accommodaiton for fruit carriage; (5) proper provision by the Railways Department for insulated waggons in summer and warmed waggons in winter; (6) the elimination of rough handling of fruits; (7) the introduction i by retailers of proper methods of ripen'ing bananas in New Zealand; (8) a guarantee to growers of a fair return for labour, either by the f.o.b. price or a guaranteed minimum price in New Zealand.

I Air J. C. Campbell, Director of the Horticultural Division of the Department. of Agriculture, said that in the event, of the committee favouring compulsory standardisation he recommended that, the proposed legislation provide for compulsory standardisation of all kinds of iruit, vegetables and root crops offered for sale through ordinary 1 commercial channels, such as fruit auction marts, retail fruit shops, hawkers’ carts and stalls disposing of fruit within town areas. No kind of fruit, vegetable or root crop below a minimum standard determined by such legislation or regulations thereunder should bo sold through the channels' referred to. Provision should be made in the legislation for a package levy not exceeding Id to be imposed on each package. The principal requirement under the scheme w r as fair, honest packing. The suggestion that apple growers should so organise as to be able to pool their products on a standardised basis was made by Air A. W. Press. Ho said no appreciable improvement could come about either to growers or consumers until the industry "had been more thoroughly organised. If New Zealand producers would study the methods of American and Australian growers from tlie orchard to the consumer lie was convinced that a better realisation for tlie products would be obtained.