LOCAL FRUIT SUPPLIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 12 June 1926, Page 6

LOCAL FRUIT SUPPLIES

MOVE FOR STANDARDISATION AUCKLAND GROWERS’ VIEWS With the idea of ensuring to growers the best prices for good quality fruit by freeing it from the competition of what was termed “rubbish,” the adoption of some system of local fruit control with the standardisation of supplies to NewZealand markets was favoured by the annual conference of the Auckland Provincial Fruitgrowers’ Council, Ltd. “In spite of the‘fact that such a large percentage of the fruit crops is available for export, the question of the local market is just as urgent to-day as ever it was.” said Me T .C- Brash, president of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation. Ltd., in his address to the conference. The glut of supplies to the markets was just- as bad as it had ever been. The grower's desired an improvement' in the Qualitv of fruit offered for sale in the Dominion, and there was evidence of the growth of a similar desire on the part of consumers The establishment of some system of local control as- far as the standardisation of supplies was concerned would have, to he considered. The rubbish would have to be eliminated from the market. He had an invitation from the Nelson Association asking that each conference should appoint two delegates to a Dominion conference to consider the question. Mr Brash appealed to growers for unity on the subject. They cculd not all be tvcppcfeil to see exactly alike, but it should be possible for them to sink their individual differences • How the present system of marketing fruit in New Zealand reacted on the growers because of the absence of any guarantee of quality, was urged by Mr E. C. Walton. lie pointed out that buyers allowed for a greater margin of risk when buying because they were, not in a position to know what percentage of the contents of the cases they purchased was first class fruit and what was of inferior quality. Inferior fruiton the market always had the effect of keeping prices dow> Mr Walton advocated t]n> setting up of local control throughout New Zealand, the local boards to he in a po “ sition to estimate the requirements of each market, and govern supplies, all supplies to he graded and a standard price fixed for each grade. Other speakers also emphasised the necessity for standardising the supplies of fruit to New Zealand ma-keij. Mr Brash advised the conference to move cautiously. They had no possible chance of obtaining local control boards to govern supplies and regulate prices, etc. The most, they should go for at present was an amendment of the Control Act with regard to voting, standardisation of supplies and possibly advertising. The conference thereupon approved the principle of local control for the standardisation of supplies and asked the delegates to the New Zealand conference to confer with the Hawke’s Bay and Nelson delegates on the best methods of standardisation.