STATE MARKETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24528, 10 February 1941, Page 4

STATE MARKETING

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES DEPARTMENT’S ACTIVITIES OUTLINED < Per United Press Association t WELLINGTON. Feb. 8. The Minister of Marketing. Mr J. G. Barclay, in an interview to-day. said that, judged from recent letters and articles in the daily press, it would appear that a considerable section of the general public was under some misapprehension as to the types of fruit and vegetables coming under the control of the Marketing Department. The only fruits directly marketed by the department, the Minister said, were oranges, bananas, lemons, apples and pears. In the case of oranges and bananas the department was the sole importing and marketing authority and at all times it made available to wholesale distributors ample supplies at the lowest possible price after ensuring that the landed cost had been covered. So far as apples and pears were concerned, Mr Barclay said, the Government’s purchase of the crop was made entirely at the request of the fruitgrowers themselves in view of the difficult situation which faced them at the outset of the war, and the possible loss of an export market. Last year apples and pears were made available at lower prices than had been in existence for many years, and this year an endeavour would be made to ensure reasonable prices. The only Government interest in stone fruits, vegetables, etc., was the work being earned out by the Department of Agriculture to develop grading standards.