STATE SELLING OF FRUIT

Southland Times, Issue 24356, 10 February 1941, Page 6

STATE SELLING OF FRUIT

MINISTER EXPLAINS POSITION (United Press Association) WELLINGTON. February 8. The Minister of Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, in an interview said that judging 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 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 made available to the wholesale distributors ample supplies at the lowest possible price after ensuring that the landed cost was covered, said the Minister. As far as apples and pears were concerned the Government's purchase of the crop was made entirely at the request of the fruit growers themselves in view of the difficult situation which faced them at the outset of the war and the possible loss of their export market. Last year apples and pears were made available at lower prices than those 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, and so on, was the work being carried i out by the Department of Agriculture | to develop grading standards.