FALSE DRESSING OF AUCTIONED PRODUCE MUST BE STOPPED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6667, 21 July 1928, Page 8

FALSE DRESSING OF AUCTIONED PRODUCE MUST BE STOPPED

Minister Replies to Wellington Deputation LOSSES SUFFERED BY RETAILERS • ' Per Press ■ Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night A strong determination to put a stop to anything in the nature ol false packing of vegetables submitted for sale at auction marts was expressed-by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. O. J. Hawken, to-day, in replying to a deputation from retail fruiterers and greengrocers. . The deputation asked that regulations providing for the standardisation ol vegetables should bo introduced so a* to guard retailers against' losses on goods purchased at the marts. Several concrete , instances of losses that had .been suffered as the result of tho falsa packing of vegetables, were given. It was suggested by Mr. J. A. Camp bell, Director of the Horticultural Division of Agriculture, that the difficulty might be overcome by the forma tibn of-a Pair Marketing Association, the’members of which would guarantee that the vegetables were of a standard quality. Ho admitted that false packing was. a very serious matter for tho retailers to contend with, but expressed the view that a system of standardisation would be very difficult to enforce. The Minister said the Government was not anxious to impose unnecessary regulations, .which to business people were always more or less objectionable. However, he -was determined to ensure ■'that as far as possible business was earned out on reasonable and straight lines. . , ■, - False packing resulted in a dead loss to the trade, and ultimately it was no good, to the grower. False packing gave -the,..trickster an advantage over tho ■fibnestl,dealer.', ■iL the* present regulations were not sufficient to meet the case of false packing,..then regulations that would meet It would have to, be introduced. /'*‘lt seems tonic,’’ said the Minister, “that we will have to put bur foot down iii such a way that the ' matter will be cleaned up’. Its’ ho' good to anybody. 1 want it to bo known publicly that this false'packing must stop. . present regulations'are in,sufficient, ‘then we. have, to insist that tie- fruit for sale is exposed so 4hat the. quality may be judged by the buyers. ' / ; . ' "False packing is; very much like false weights and false measurer yod It is bad business. It's going t'p be a pretty, big jbb to straighten things up. but*,!'am quite certain that it will have to be done. I hope that those concerned will take, notice of what has been said.” V.j==- y