ONIONS STANDING IN PADDOCKS

Southland Times, Issue 23181, 23 April 1937, Page 8

ONIONS STANDING IN PADDOCKS

government control CRITICIZED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 22. Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P. for Riccarton stated today that thousands of sacks of onions are standing in the paddocks in Canterbury, another instance of failure in the exercise of Government control over perishable products. Control regulations were promised by March 1 but they were not gazetted till March 18. During the period of delay and uncertainty it was only natural that growers were not inclined to sell and merchants were equally disinclined to purchase, Mr Kyle said. Also objection was raised to the regulations themselves and, finally, at the conference, it was unanimously agreed to eliminate the grading system and substitute the f.a.g. system, so long recognized in the marketing of onions. Growers were promised that the evidence before the conference would be submitted to the Government and, at the same time, it was agreed that every effort be made to induce the Government to purchase a large quantity to assist the alreadyglutted market. The Government’s reply was lack of cold storage, and that a South Island committee be set up, which was now done. It was generally felt that if the Government had given an assurance that a total embargo would be placed on imported onions and had left the market open to normal supply and demand, growers would not have been placed in the position that merchants were still disinclined to purchase onions on a scale similar to former years.