EXPORT MARK FOR FRUIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 August 1933, Page 7

EXPORT MARK FOR FRUIT

DOMINION SCHEME WORKING OF NEW SYSTEM Support for the Dominion fruit mark scheme, which he said was paying its way, was expressed by Mr H. E. Napier, secretary of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation at the annual Canterbury provincial conference of the federation (reports the “Press”). In view of Mr Napier’s assurance, the conference gave its delegates to the Dominion conference power to vote as they wished on the following remit framed by Rangiora: — “That as the great majority of fruit growers ill the Dominion do not support the Dominion mark scheme, all the expenditure on the scheme, including payment for the time given by federation employees, be met by those who sell their fruit under the mark.”

Mr Napier said only one section of the growers started the export trade after the war. There had been opposition, but this served to prove its effectiveness. He declared that the Doi minion mark scheme would be profitable and that there would he between 125,000 and 150,000 cases marketed under the scheme this year. The list now included lemons, and requests had been made fer other lines to lie brought under the scheme. It was proving a benefit to all growers, and money had been expended solely on advertising. This had mainly taken the form of the distribution of printed matter among the 300,000 children attending the schools of New Zealand. A voice : “The fact that the auctioneers are opposed to it is a reason for us to support it.” The conference also left its delegates to vote as-they saw fit on other remits on this topic. The Christchurch Tomato and Stone Fruit Growers seek to gain Dominion support for an opinion that as the elimination 'of market gluts was essential to successful marketing, the Dominion body should be urged to extend the operation of the Dominion mark scheme, which, it was considered, had exorcised a beneficial influence. Discussing the Dominion mark, the annual report of the federation said the scheme had undoubtedly been a factor in securing a more stable market. The Nelson province had entrusted a large proportion of its suitable fruit to the distribution of the federation. In addition to Nelson, however, good support had been forthcoming from Hawkes Bay, Auckland, and all parts of Otago. A premium for Dominion mark fruit had certainly been secured. While in all instances it had not reached Is a case aimed at. this margin had been exceeded in some instances.