Produce Auctioneers Meet Ministers

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 60, 12 March 1943, Page 3

Produce Auctioneers Meet Ministers

WANT ASSURANCE FOR FUTURE Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Mar. 10. Asking for an indication as to whether the services of produce auctioneering iirrns were appreciated and were to be continued, a imputation representing the New Zealand Fruit Merchants and Auctioneers’ Federation waited on the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and the Minister of Marketing (Mr. Barclay), to-day. Mr. Harvey Turner, on behalf of the deputation said vicious attacks on fruit and vegetable distributors had been made recently in a certain newspaper. They had set the people against each other and were tantamount to fifth column activity. He asked if the Government would take steps to put an end to such statements. If private enterprise were forced out the cost of creating an alternative both financially and in manpower Avould be much greater to the country. Any suggestion to deprive wholesale distributors of their higher-priced lines because of their higher commissions •would mean that they would be unable to handle cheaper or unpayable lines. He said that all sales of fruit and vegetables made by the distributors were on account of the owner and the prices received were passed on to the owner less , the usual selling charges. In such circumstances the suggestion that the auctioneering system was ruthlessly exploiting both consumers and producers was preposterous. Thy Minister of Marketing (Mr. Barclay) said he had experienced pretty fair co-operation from brokers in connection with fruit and vegetables. They had been most helpful at the recent conference. lie did not think brokers would say the Government was trying to oust them. The Prime Minister said it was recognised when the Internal Marketing Division ’was set up that it would create problems for those already in the distribution line, but those difficulties had been met by the firms and by the Department, and taken by and large there had been very good co-opcration. It had never been the intention of the Government in connection with any enterprise to cast aside that reservoir of experience which no act of Parliament or set of regulations could provide. If it was demonstrated, and the ; Minister of Marketing was quite clear in his mind, that the w r ork being carried on by the produce firms was best and could be carried on most beneficially by them in the interests of the community, then the Government would not dream of interfering. If oil the other hand the people were getting a bad deal then the position would have to be examined. He had no knowledge of any proposal to do other than cooperate with those in business at the present time. He was not going to say that that would hold static for ail time. If a situation developed that mado it necessary that something be done the course to be followed would not be taken suddenly, but the Minister of Marketing would call a conference of those concerned and endeavour to obtain the greatest co-operation of everyone. lie assured the deputation that the interests it represented need have no fear of any harsh or arbitrary or unjust action, at any time, but lie could not mortgage the future or the I war years.