FRUIT CONTROL BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 June 1923, Page 2

FRUIT CONTROL BOARD

DISC T’SSEI) BY DOMINION ("(INFERENCE The committee set up to consider Ihe best means of forming a Fruit- Control Board submitted a unanimous report to the Federation Conference, that such a hoard should be set up. or as an alternative that the Fruitgrowers’ Federation he given the necessary powers to take eonirol on the local market of standardisation, marking and advertising. As far as export was concerned, the hoard or federation should have control of shipping, advertising. and insurance, also decision as to which ports or -ou.i tries the fruit should be shipped; such body to have power to make a levy on all pip fruit sold either locally or exported. The committee reconum ried : "That the conference urges till representatives to immediately consult the growers in their respective provinces who a view to securing their approval and taking the necessary steps to obtain the requisite legislation during the present session. Mr Allen (Nelson) said (lie amount of control intended to In* given was r.ot as much as many would have liked, yet. it would mean a considerable step forward. Colonel Grey (Nelson), said that the desire was to get some definite jos it ton for tlie industry. He put forward a plea for a board of specialists as against one of prominent- business men oily. Ale T. C. Brash (Wellington) said the idea in his mind, when drawing up the committee’s report, was that if a levy of, say, Id n case were imposed, it mightdo away with the orchard tax. It was estimated to produce something like, £4OOO. which would help considerably towards the improvement of the industry.

Mr Sontlieote (Hawke’s Bay). said that his province was against control of any description. On a vote being taken it was decided to refer the matter of setting up a. control board along the lines of the committee's report, to the separate associations for their consideration and decision. ‘The conference agreed that the Federation he empowered to give effect to Hie decision of the majority, and that a maximum levy of Id per case he imposed.