FRUIT AND PRODUCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20931, 22 July 1931, Page 5

FRUIT AND PRODUCE.

BUYIhJG-IN . PRACTICE.

LEGALISATION OPPOSED. [by telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Opposition to the legalisation of buyingin, as proposed by the New Zealand Fruit and Produce Auctioneers and Importers' Federation, was expressed to-day at the conference of the Tomato, Soft Fruit and Produce Growers' Conference. Sir. T. 11. Foster moved that the proposed legislation bo strenuously opposed by the association. Ho referred to the recent decision given in the Supremo Court on the subject. Buying-in, he said, was a bad tiling for the growers. 110 instanced one case where a grower had taken a consignment of potatoes to Wellington and sent some to one auction room and some to another. At the second room the day's market price of 14s was paid, ? but when he went back to tho other room his potatoes had been withdrawn and he was only paid Bs. Mr. W. Copping said there were firms in Wellington which could be "pulled up" for illegal buying-in, but the producers could do nothing, as they had not; the money to fight vested interests. He said tho Otago fruitgrowers and the Wellington produce growers were opposed to tho proposed legislation. Mr. H. L. Falla (Christchurch) said tho system had been the salvation of some growers in Canterbury. Mr. F. Rushworth: We have put the feai' of God into them at Christchurch. The president, Mr. C. E, Pope, said some growers had refused to put then produce in the market by the side of imported fruits, and had taken it to another auctioneer. Mr. Foster contended that if county buyers were represented in the market tho prices would be much higher than they were. ~ „ « , , The president said the Canterbury . association had given instructions to oppose the proposed legislation. . The subject was referred to the various associations for consideration*