INSPECTION FEE STAMPS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21190, 10 November 1938, Page 14

INSPECTION FEE STAMPS

FRUIT GROWERS WARNED SALES DIRECT TO PUBLIC Fruit inspectors ot the Department of Agriculture are concerned about a leakage of revenue that is known to I exist in regard to inspection fee stamps j which regulations, brought down this year, require to be placed on every i case of fruit sold by orchardists, says i an exchange. For the most part, growers and retailers have responded to the Department's instructions, but inspectors believe that the regulations were not being observed in connection with sales of fruit direct from the orchards to the public. It was imperative, he said, that orchardists should co-operate in seeing that the regulations were observed to the letter. Officers of the Department intended to make a drive against offenders and they would have no hesi- | tation in launching a prosecution. When the scheme was first planned by the Government, it was explained. ' inspectors were appointed on the basis of revenue that would be received from I the sale of inspection fee stamps. If I the revenue did not come up to expectations it would be necessary to increase the fee and thus penalise the regulations. Practically all orchardists admitted that the Government’s compulsory grading scheme, which provided the necessity for inspectors, was in the best interests of the industry as a whole. The scheme was also greatly appreciated bj’ the retailers and was a protection for the public against the sale of fruit below a certain standard.