MARKETING OF FRUIT

Southland Times, Issue 23254, 17 July 1937, Page 6

MARKETING OF FRUIT

No Direct State Control ORGANIZATION OF GROWERS STATEMENT BY MR LEE MARTIN (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, July 16. Although direct State control of the internal marketing of fruit is not intended by the Government according to the acting Minister of Marketing (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) the Primary Products Marketing Act is to be extended to bring fruit and vegetables within its scope. It is then intended to organize growers into groups centring on committees which might ultimately become marketing authorities and the sale and distribution of produce will be directed by the Government. The organization of growers, it is hoped, will be voluntary. This information was given today by Mr Martin in an interview.

As the result of an inquiry which was conducted last year by the Fruit Marketing Committee and on the recommendations of that committee the Government had decided to take steps to reorganize the marketing of fruit and vegetables in the Dominion, Mr Martin said, and, for this purpose, the Government had approved of the drafting of the necessary alterations to the Primary Products Marketing Act to bring horticultural commodities within the scope of that statute. “It is not intended, however, that the Government will assume the control of the produce marketed,” he continued, “but rather will it direct the sale and distribution of the produce through various markets. Under the amended legislation power will be given to delegate certain authority to appropriate organizations, should this be considered desirable. Before giving effect to any scheme of reorganization, whether local or Dominion-wide, it has been arranged

that such a scheme will be submitted to Cabinet for its approval beforehand. The work of the reorganization has been placed in the hands of the Director of Internal Marketing (Mr F. R. Picot) with instructions that any reorganization should be made as far as possible on a voluntary basis in the meantime. VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION “It may be said that all attempts at voluntary organization are bound to fail. In the past I admit that this has been the case, but with the Government taking an interest in it and using a guiding hand a lot of useful work can be done in this way.” As a preliminary to the organization of producers in the various fruit-grow-ing areas into marketing groups it would be of considerable assistance if growers organized themselves, it was stated,- into provincial or district committees. These would serve as a mouthpiece for the industry and also as a liaison between the growers and the department. “At a later date it may be desirable to divide these committees into subcommittees to deal with different kinds of fruit and they may form the nucleus of the marketing authorities,” Mr Martin concluded. “These committees could also discuss the questions of the standardization of cool storage facilities and transport and marketing arrangements generally and would serve as a useful guide to the director to organize the growers on these lines. The Department of Internal Marketing will be working in the closest co-operation with the Department of Agriculture and the officers of both departments will, from time to time, visit the various districts and take an active part in organizing the producers and they will also explain the Government’s policy.