LAND LOST TO GROWERS

Southland Times, Issue 24598, 21 November 1941, Page 6

LAND LOST TO GROWERS

Vegetable Inquiry

Continued

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, November 19. The suggestion that land in North Canterbury could be utilized to replace the land lost to growers in the Hutt Valley and to supply vegetables to the Wellington market was made by Mr H. C. Frampton, representing the Christchurch Growers’ Association, when giving evidence about vegetable prices before the Price Tribunal today. In reply to a question he said he did not think North Canterbury land could grow the early spring cabbages that came from the Hutt Valley. In Christchurch early spring cabbages came from dear land. It was only because of the high prices that they could be. grown as a payable proposition. He said there was a wonderful opportunity in Nelson, which he did not think had been tried out enough. Mr Frampton agreed that the organization of the growers’ side of the market garden industry would improve the position. Two things that would help most were the registration of growers and the regulation of supplies. . He claimed that auctioneers were giving efficient and good service to growers and retailers. He did not see how prices could be fixed by treaty. MARKET GARDEN LAND Mr E. G. Robertson, general manager and a director of Market Gardens Ltd., a co-operative company, said he did not think the Government should take any more land in the Hutt Valley. The authorities in other countries were not so indiscreet as to take away market garden land from cities. He said it was ridiculous to talk about bringing vegetables to Wellington from the South Island. He instanced tomatoes. The freight was 2/6 against twopence. Referring to auctioneering he said: “We can sell £lOOO worth of produce in three hours, but under private treaty we might bicker with a buyer for three days.”