CONSUMPTION OF FRUIT

Taranaki Daily News, 8 August 1930, Page 11

CONSUMPTION OF FRUIT

MARKETING INVESTIGATION

MINIMUM QUALITY ADVOCATED.

DOMINION OOOLD ABSORB OUTPUT. By T«legrsph.—Press Association. ' Wellington, Aug. 7. The inquiry by the Industries and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives into the marketing of fruit and vegetables opened to-day, Wellington evidence being taken. Air. Campbell, Director of Horticulture, considered that if the methods of distribution were improved and fruit sold at a reasonable price people could consume all the fruit grown in. the Dominion. He thought that if the number of shops were reduced less fruit would be consumed.- He had a lot of sympathy with the retailer in the prices he charged,. because he had to face losses not common to other retailers.

Air. Campbell mentioned that another obstacle to the ■- retailer was thefact of a ehrtain.' amount- of dishonest packing. The. volume placed' On the market daily made it impossible for- a comprehensive inspection to be made, and one of the improvements suggested by the retailers was compulsory standardisation. That scheme was carried out in parts of Canada and the States. It was essential that something should be done to prevent the inferior being covered by the better class product at the market.

Air. Campbell said that in some centres in England growers had an association and a standard and depended on the stigma of disqualification from the association to maintain ’ the standard. It was essential that a,minimum, standard be fixed iip Nqw. Zealand. . .... Questioned, he. -said he ithought there was '.'something to be said,, for an ...open market. . ' ■

Mr. Tait, a grower, said that..if, all growers packed as .they did for export half . flicir troubles would. be over. He was not in favour of ; price fixation, but was in favour of Mr. Campbell’s proposal to fix a minimum quality. Growers wore not out for big prices, but only lor a fair profit over production costs. The cost of standardisation should be bonie equally by growers and retailer’s. However, the system would be to the benefit of growers, even if they had to bear the whole cost.

Mr. Reardon, giving evidence, said in relation to island fruit that until more suitable boats were put. into the trade all the oranges arriving at Wellington Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin should be repacked in the original grade and that a count be made under Government supervision. Hq made allegations of unfairness against auctioneers in submitting fruit for sale that was not in a fit condition and quoted instances of dealers having bought cases of fruit, much of which was. rotten. The best method of collecting . the- cost of standardisation would .be to levy ,on growers’ cases. I