STANDARDISATION OF FRUIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 June 1923, Page 11

STANDARDISATION OF FRUIT

■VOLUNTARY -SYSTEM The Director of Horticulture, Air J. A. Campbell, explained to the. conference of the Fruitgrowers Association liis scheme for standardisation of fruit for marketing. Details of the scheme have already been published. The proposed system was not, he said. a. criupuJsory one. Under it. low grade in u would not be directly eliminated from the market. but such fruit would be ousted indirectly. The system was a voluntary one. The slmidar lisi ig tor the local market would include three grades, to be indicated by specific;! labels. Ibe standardised fruit would he separated m the auction marts from )ho um-laiularilis-cd fruit. Fruit packed and sent to auction by growers as standardised! iruit wen id be inspected bv Government grad-

fn reply to a question. Mr Campbell said his scheme applied in the meantime solely to the Nelson grower, the Wellington auction market,, and the. retail buyer. The scheme could, of course, he extended to oilier places. Bv invitation, several members of the ]‘'ruitbrokers’ Association addressed the conference.

Ur Cress, of tin; Wellington Fruitlwokers' Association, assured the members of the Federation that they bad the support of the salesmen throughout New Zealand. As to Mr Campbell's scheme for Wellington, the auctioneers here, cordially supported it. and would do all they' con hi to help it through. The auctioneers believed that compulsory standardisation would come into torce eventually, but in the meantime they approved of the voluntary system. 'Mr Harvey Turner, of'the Wellington Fruitgrowers’ Association, said lie approved of compulsory standardisation. Voluntary standardisation was. in his opinion, only a step in the right direc-

tion. ~ Mr E. Radley, of the Auckland Fruitbrokers’ Association, favoured compulsory standardisation. He emphasised the importance of the local market. Mr .1. Allan (Nelson) remarked that the majority of Nelson growers were in favour of ' compulsory standardisation. There was a teeling, however, that the voluntary system might be tried in the meantime. Mr Campbell expressed a firm opinion that even n compulsory system of standardisation would fail unless Hi eve was adequate inspection. Mr J. Allan remarked that while the majority of growers at the meeting at Nelson ’ favoured a trial being given to Mr Campbell’s scheme, be felt sure most of them also favoured a compulsory system. Mr (•. Craigie, Government Fruit Inspecter. Marlborough, addressed the conference in favour of a trial being given to Mr Campbell's scheme; at the same time keeping in view the ultimate adoption of a compulsory system. The chairman. Mr M. Robertson, moved :—“That this conference thoroughly approves of the scheme put forward by Mr Campbell. Director of Agriculture, and volunteers in do all in its power to give the scheme its support.” The motion was seconded by Mr J. Allan (Nelson), and was carried without dissent.